KING’S Ely Junior’s Young Musician of the Year Finalists’ Concert was a splendid event!
The competition encouraged pupils in Years 3-8 to let their musicianship shine throughout the Summer Term. Shout out to Catherine Evans-Buczak, Director of Music at King’s Ely Junior, and her team for organising and coordinating the action-packed programme.
Musicians who secured a place at the Finalists’ Concert on July 4th were:
Years 3 and 4 Woodwind – Spencer Read (saxophone)
Years 3 and 4 Strings – Freddie Wright (violin)
Years 3 and 4 Percussion – Annabelle Skeffington (kit)
Years 3 and 4 Vocal – Spencer Read
Years 3 and 4 Piano – Freddie Wright
Years 3 and 4 Brass – Jan Niezgoda
Years 3 and 4 Young Musician of the Year – Freddie Wright
Years 5 and 6 Woodwind – Emily Brown (flute)
Years 5 and 6 Strings – Alastair Wright (cello)
Years 5 and 6 Percussion – Theo Hogg (kit)
Years 5 and 6 Vocal – Harry Shepherd
Years 5 and 6 Piano – Lukasz Niezgoda
Years 5 and 6 Brass – Benjamin Surridge
Years 5 and 6 Young Musician of the Year – Alastair Wright
Years 7 and 8 Woodwind – Lula Boon (saxophone)
Years 7 and 8 Strings – Matthew Allen (violin)
Years 7 and 8 Percussion – Toby Calvo (kit)
Years 7 and 8 Vocal – Hetty Guyer
Years 7 and 8 Piano – Thomas Strudwick
Years 7 and 8 Brass – Evie Woodward (French horn)
Years 7 and 8 Young Musician of the Year – Hetty Guyer
Our adjudicator on the evening was Nicholas Moor. Nicholas was awarded a Junior Exhibition to the Royal College of Music when he was twelve and, after six years, continued his studies as an undergraduate. He is a pianist, organist, conductor and composer, and was a Director of Music for many years.
Having retired in 2012, he was asked to be the acting Director of Music at King’s Ely for one year, which he enjoyed very much. Five years later, he and his wife decided to move back to Ely where they now live. Nicholas has also taught in the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music for many years and has enormous experience of working with young musicians at a very high level. He is also a high grades Theory Examiner for the ABRSM.
Congratulations of course to everyone who performed at the Finalists’ Concert, but well done to each and every pupil who took part in the competition. Your confidence and can-do attitudes are so admirable!
Mrs Evans-Buczak added: “I would also like to thank the dedicated visiting and full-time music staff, accompanists and King’s Ely Junior teaching staff for their support in making the House Music Festival such a huge success.”
Images by Jordan Day (Head of Media) and Molly Whymark (Old Elean).