PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year Competition 2020
2020 saw five extremely talented local musicians lined up for the final of the ‘PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year’ competition.
Each finalist had already won the island title for their respective instrument category and were all strong contenders for the ‘PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year’ title which took place on Saturday 29 February, 7pm at the Jersey Opera House.
Charlotte Arthur was named the PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year 2020 winner for her Saxophone performance.
Leo Vernaglione took home the Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award for his Trumpet performance.
Other finalists of the PwC Young Musician of the Year 2020 Competition were:
- Daisy Prendergast, Vocal, Winner of the Jersey Vocal Trust Vocal Heat.
- Charlie Doyle, Guitar, Winner of the Island Music String Heat.
- Darius Kayley, Piano, Winner of the Wendy Falla Piano Heat.
Charlotte Arthur, winner of the PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year Competition 2020
Leo Vernaglione, winner of the Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award
Each finalist performed a short programme of music, which they selected to showcase their musicality and power of expression whilst demonstrating their performance and technical skills across a variety of musical periods and styles. The competitors were adjudicated by an external judge who brought with them an impressive range of technical knowledge and performance experience.
Saxophonist Charlotte Arthur, was awarded the ‘PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year’ trophy, for her performance and received a cheque for £1,000 in support of her ongoing music studies. In addition to this Charlotte has been invited to give a recital in the summer. The Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award was given to Leo Vernaglione for his Trumpet performance and he will benefit from a structured programme of participation with the JSO over the coming year.
2020 also saw the staging of the fourth ‘PwC Junior Musician of the Year’ competition. Aimed at promising younger musicians under the age of thirteen, the objective of the junior event is to provide younger competitors with valuable live performance experience from an early age. The junior winners were also presented with their trophies at the competition finals at the Jersey Opera House.
The audience saw guest performances from 2019 winner, vocalist Julia Callander, who performed after the interval, in addition to special guest, Ben Thomson, who became the Principal Tuba player with the London Symphony Orchestra in April 2019. Prior to this appointment, he held the same positions with the Orchestra of The Royal Opera House, Covent Garden and the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra. He won the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Soloist of the Year in both 2006 and 2007. Ben was a member of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the European Union Youth Orchestra. He has since performed with most of the UK’s orchestras and has also worked abroad including a trial with the Australian Opera and Ballet Orchestra based in the Sydney Opera House. In September this year, Ben will also take over the Professor of Tuba role at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama in London.
PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year 2020 Competition finalists and winners of the PwC Junior Musician of the Year Competition.
Contact us
Marketing and Communications Director, PwC Channel Islands
Tel: +44 7700 838353
