Junior Conservatoire of Music students are in the running for one of the most prestigious nationwide prizes for young classical musicians.

Four current students and one recent former pupil have been selected for the live audition round of BBC Young Musician. Only 40 young performers from across the UK have been invited to this stage of the competition.

Those progressing from the Junior Conservatoire are:

Magnus Campbell, French horn (taught by Sue Baxendale)

Aly Cottee, oboe (taught by Stephen West)

Oliver Hak, piano (taught by Aaron Shorr)

Jack Traynor, trombone (taught by Nigel Cox)

George Brady, French horn – former Junior Conservatoire student

The live auditions will take place later this spring, after which a select group will move forward to the televised category finals.

The students follow in the footsteps of pianist Ethan Loch who won the keyboard category final in the 2022 competition and progressed to the grand final while in his first year of the Bachelor of Music degree programme at RCS.

Matthew Chinn, Head of the Junior Conservatoire of Music, said: “BBC Young Musician is recognised as the UK’s leading competition for young performers, with many past participants progressing to significant international careers.

“To reach the live auditions is a truly significant achievement. It speaks not only to the level these young musicians are performing at now, but to the depth of their commitment, artistry and potential.

“We are immensely proud of them and excited to see how this experience shapes and propels the next stage of their musical journey. We wish them every success in the live auditions.”

Find out more about BBC Young Musician

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