Churchill Music’s Young Musician of the Year Competition once again proved to be a resounding success. The standard of performance from the students at Churchill Academy was outstanding, and the atmosphere in the church was warm, encouraging and celebratory.
The adjudication panel was also outstanding this year. Chair, Julian Forbes, MA (Cantab) MA (R.A.M.), was joined by Holly Greenwood-Rogers, BA (Durham) MMus (RBC) and Helena Torpy, BMus. The awards were presented by Chair of Churchill Music Trustees, Trevor Smallwood OBE. One of the distinctive features of the competition is that each student is required to introduce their own performance. In preparation, the Chair of the panel visited Churchill Academy prior to the competition to offer guidance to the competitors on presentation. The results were clear: confident, articulate and engaging introductions that enhanced the musical experience for everyone.
Churchill Music Young Musician of the Year 2026 is Year 10 pianist, Luna Bavetta. Luna’s performance of Debussy’s First Arabesque and Chopin’s Waltz in E minor was described as impressively managed and technically masterful. Her musical maturity and control marked her out as a worthy winner.
The Ursula Dornton Vocal Prize, generously sponsored by the Trinity Singers, was won by Year 12 student, Izzy Russe. Izzy’s performances of Frederick Loewe’s ‘I Could Have Danced All Night’ and Andrew Lloyd Webber’s ‘Think of Me’ delighted us all. She clearly immersed herself in the music and communicated her enjoyment with warmth and conviction.
The audience voted for tenor-horn player, Jamie Samuel to receive the Churchill Music Audience Trophy. Jamie performed Albinoni’s Adagio (arr. Bissill) and Rube Bloom’s ‘Give me the simple life’. Jamie was praised by the panel for his “fundamentally gorgeous, well-supplied, tonally secure sound”, a comment warmly echoed by the appreciative applause from the congregation.
All winners are invited to enter the Rotary Young Musician District Final, at Taunton School on Sunday 8th March, presenting a wonderful opportunity to showcase their talents on a wider stage.
Introducing the evening, trustee Jan Murray offered a, ‘Thought for the evening’ on the recognition of the fundamental benefits of music education for all, for over 2,500 years, citing Plato, (420BCE) saying, “I would teach children music, physics and philosophy; but most importantly music, for the patterns in music and all the arts are the keys to learning,” to 21st century’s Jef Raskin, inventor of the Mac computer saying, “If I had not studied music, there would be no Macintosh computers today”. The message was clear, music shapes minds, communities and futures.
Head Teacher Chris Hildrew summed up the evening perfectly:
“We are delighted to partner with Churchill Music yet again for a fantastic evening celebrating the excellent musicianship of our students. Music is a vital part of the life of our Academy and remains the beating heart of our school community.”
Churchill Music continues to play a vital role in nurturing young musicians through this competition, violin taster sessions in local primary schools, workshops with visiting national and international musicians, and its inspiring ‘Power of Music’ project, teaching children in years 5 and 6 in local primary schools how, if film-makers and advertisers use music to alter our perceptions, we can all do so too. It explains the reasoning, what happens in the brain and how they can help each other through music. Churchill Music’s Young Musician of the Year competition was, in every sense, an evening that demonstrated the power of music to uplift, inspire and bring a community together.