Bbc's Young Musician Of The Year

[Guest Barry Oakley]

Rather than digress from the topic “So what is happening in schools” I thought it beneficial to start a new topic which still involves young people. I have long been interested and amazed by the outstanding talent that is unearthed in the BBC’s “Young Musician of The Year” competition. I find it baffling that for all the many years this competition has been running that there has never been a young organist on the programme. I have no doubt whatsoever that among the many young organ scholars there are, particularly those at our cathedrals, the BBC has never sought to include this category in the competition. Might it be that the BBC is reluctant to broadcast organ music and what might the Royal College of Organists be doing to remedy this omission?

[Guest Barry Oakley]

Rather than digress from the topic “So what is happening in schools” I thought it beneficial to start a new topic which still involves young people. I have long been interested and amazed by the outstanding talent that is unearthed in the BBC’s “Young Musician of The Year” competition. I find it baffling that for all the many years this competition has been running that there has never been a young organist on the programme. I have no doubt whatsoever that among the many young organ scholars there are, particularly those at our cathedrals there is some outstanding talent, the BBC has never sought to include this category in the competition. Might it be that the BBC is reluctant to broadcast organ music and what might the Royal College of Organists be doing to remedy this omission?

[innate]

Rather than digress from the topic “So what is happening in schools” I thought it beneficial to start a new topic which still involves young people. I have long been interested and amazed by the outstanding talent that is unearthed in the BBC’s “Young Musician of The Year” competition. I find it baffling that for all the many years this competition has been running that there has never been a young organist on the programme. I have no doubt whatsoever that among the many young organ scholars there are, particularly those at our cathedrals, the BBC has never sought to include this category in the competition. Might it be that the BBC is reluctant to broadcast organ music and what might the Royal College of Organists be doing to remedy this omission?

I would imagine that amongst the reasons for not including organ are: the age at which most start learning the organ is higher than for other classical instruments, so there's less chance of an amazing 12 or 13 year old getting through to the final rounds; there are logistical problems in arranging to use suitable organs for local, regional and final rounds including the provision of adequate practice time; the repertoire for the final "concerto" round, pace the continuing thread on this subject, does not include many appropriately challenging pieces (admittedly this last reason would also apply to other intruments that are included in the competition eg guitar).

 

That's just off the top of my head but should provide some relief for your bafflement. Regarding organ scholars, I think the age-limit would preclude most organ scholars.

[Vox Humana]

One year there was an organist who got quite a long way in the competition - maybe as far as the quarter-finals? I didn't hear him and can't for the life of me remember his name. No doubt he's now ever so well known. I have a feeling he was at Cheetham's. Someone will remember, I'm sure.

 

What a shame coverage of this event has been relegated to the "minor" TV channels. Typical of the culture today, of course.

[wolsey]

Rather than digress from the topic “So what is happening in schools” I thought it beneficial to start a new topic which still involves young people. I have long been interested and amazed by the outstanding talent that is unearthed in the BBC’s “Young Musician of The Year” competition. I find it baffling that for all the many years this competition has been running that there has never been a young organist on the programme.

Sorry, but this is untrue. Ashley Grote was a keyboard (i.e.organ) finalist in the 2000 competition; he played Simon Preston's Toccata. His appearance in the competition on television generated some discussion at the time.

[Vox Humana]

That will be the chap. I see I was wrong again in most significant respects, but at least he does play the organ and is now well known.

[Celeste]

Organists are welcome to enter. However they are in the 'piano' category, and I simply don't believe they would ever put an organist above a pianist, so that there was no pianist in the concerto final.

 

One year, the published venue for the Concerto final was a venue without organ, despite the fact that organists could enter. It makes my point!

[Peter Clark]

Organists are welcome to enter. However they are in the 'piano' category, and I simply don't believe they would ever put an organist above a pianist, so that there was no pianist in the concerto final.

 

One year, the published venue for the Concerto final was a venue without organ, despite the fact that organists could enter. It makes my point!

 

 

But I suppose in the eventuality of an organist winning they'd have imported a toaster?

 

Peter

[DQB123]

But I suppose in the eventuality of an organist winning they'd have imported a toaster?

 

Peter

If it was good enough for Virgil....