2026 Award Rules
- 1. About
This is an Award run by BBC Scotland for Scottish classical musicians aged 18 – 24 year olds. It will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland. It is designed to complement the existing BBC Young Musician of the Year Award which is open to UK musicians 18 or under and broadcast on Radio 3 and BBC2.
2. DATE & VENUE
For full timeline, please see Application Process:
Semi-Finals 22 March 2026 at Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Main Hall
Final 30 May 2026 at City Halls, Glasgow, Main Hall
3. FORMAT
3.1. It will be a format of three rounds; initial applications by a recording (via Uploader) which will be assessed by the BBC and a panel of judges. Nine semi-finalists will be chosen to perform a 10 - 12 minute recital, with or without piano accompaniment, in front of a jury in an open session with a friends and family audience.
3.2. Based on the performances at the semi-finals recital event, three finalists will be selected to appear in a Final Concert to perform a work of between 13 and 20 minutes duration with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBCSSO), in a special concert in front of a live Radio Scotland audience. A winner will be chosen by a panel of judges and announced on-air. Each round will have a different panel of judges.
4. ELIGIBILITY
4.1. The Award is open to musicians aged between 18 and 24 who live in Scotland or are currently enrolled in full time education in Scotland (or who are in full time education outside Scotland and their parents/guardians live in Scotland). Musicians or their parents / guardians must have resided in Scotland for at least 1 year immediately prior to 17th November 2025. Entrants must be aged between 18 and 24 (inclusive) as of November 17th 2025.
4.2. Overseas entries will not be considered. The Award is not open to employees, or the immediate families of employees, of the BBC, its subsidiaries or agencies or anyone else connected with the creation or administration of this Award.
4.3. We are committed to equality of opportunity and welcome submissions from individuals, regardless of gender, ethnicity, disability, sexual orientation, gender identity, socio-economic background, religion and/or belief. If you need any reasonable adjustments, contact [email protected] as soon as possible.
4.4. The Award is only open to individual musicians who play an instrument that has existing repertoire of works for solo instrument and symphony orchestra. These can include electric/electronic instruments and those outside the Western Classical music tradition.
5. APPLICATION PROCESS
FULL TIMELINE
Opening Date 17th November 2025 at 10am
Closing Date 5th January 2026 at noon
Shortlist announced 30th January 2026
Semi-Finals 22nd March 2026
Finals 30th May 2026
5.1. To apply, please use the Uploader (bbc.co.uk/youngclassical). Entrants must:
5.1.1.submit a 10 minute recording of themselves playing classical music. This can be solo playing or with piano or other accompanying instrument.
5.1.2.submit a short introduction about yourself via the BBC Uploader (maximum 300 words or short audio up to 2 minutes); and
5.1.3.provide information on the music performed on your audio recording.
You will not be judged on your introduction, or on the technical quality of it, this is purely to help the production team find out more about you.
5.2. Applications open on 17th November 2025 at 10am. Entries received before this date will not be considered.
5.3. Entries must be made online only.
5.4. If you require further information please contact: [email protected]
5.5. CLOSING DATE – at noon on 5 January 2026. Submissions received after this time will not be considered. Entries will not be returned so please remember to keep a copy.
5.6. If you want to withdraw your application, please email [email protected] by 5th January 2025 at noon.
5.7. Entrants can only enter individually. Entries from ensembles will not be accepted. Only one entry per person is permitted. If you submit more than one entry, only the first entry received will be considered.
5.8. Entries must not contain any defamatory, offensive or any other material which the BBC, in its sole discretion, may deem unsuitable. Entries must be suitable to be broadcast by the BBC to audiences of all ages.
5.9. All entries must be the original work of the entrant and must not infringe the rights of any other party. In addition, the use of generative AI tools to create or develop any part of an entry is not permitted and will lead to disqualification.
6. JUDGING CRITERIA & PROCESS
6.1. Entries will be judged on the following criteria:
6.1.1.Technical Range & Accuracy
6.1.2.Musicianship & Performance; and
6.1.3.Choice of Programme
6.2. String, wind, brass, percussion and piano entrants will be judged together and there will be no requirement for judges to choose semi-finalists from each instrumental category.
7. KEY STAGES
7.1. BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician is in three rounds; audio application round, semi-finals and finals. There are no category rounds for different instrument families.
7.2. ROUND ONE
7.2.1.The BBC shall do an initial sift of entries and select a maximum of 30 entries to go to a panel of judges who will review and select nine entrants to take part in the semi-finals, based on the criteria set out above.
7.3. ROUND TWO: SEMI-FINALS
7.3.1.The semi-final will take place on 22nd March 2026 at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Glasgow with rehearsals on Friday 20th (anytime) or Saturday 21st March 2026 (after 5 pm).
7.3.2.The semi-finalists, up to a maximum of nine, will be required to perform a 10 - 12 minute performance, with or without piano accompaniment, in front of a panel of judges. This event will be open to an audience of friends and family. A BBC piano accompanist will be supplied for the semi-final and must be used if you need an accompanist.
7.3.3.The semi-finalists will be asked to submit their programme for semi-finals and two options of works to be performed in the final should they reach that stage. The BBC reserves the right to choose your second choice if you get through to the final.
7.3.4.All semi-finalists must have agreed a work with Award organisers to be performed in the final in their event that they are selected before the day of the semi-final otherwise they may be disqualified.
7.3.5.The BBC reserves the right to refuse repertoire requests on the grounds of excessive cost or other practical difficulties. At the BBC’s discretion, repertoire may be allowed that requires up to four extra orchestral players.
7.3.6. Three (3) finalists will be chosen from this Semi-Final round to compete in the final with the BBCSSO
7.4. THE FINALS
7.4.1. The final will take place on Sat 30th May 2026 at City Halls, Glasgow with rehearsals on Thurs 28th and Fri 29th May 2026.
7.4.2.Finalists will be required to perform a single movement or work for solo instrument and orchestra of between 13 and 20 minutes duration with the BBCSSO.
7.4.3.The winner will be chosen by a panel of judges (different from the semi-finals) based on the best performance of the night established by the criteria above.
7.4.4.Judges use a scoring system out of 10 per criteria. This score will be used as a guide. However, the winner is ultimately decided on the basis of panel discussion and a majority agreement. In the event of a deadlock, the chair of the judges will have the casting vote.
7.4.5.The final will be broadcast on BBC Radio Scotland.
7.4.6.Works should be scored for a solo instrument and symphony orchestra with a maximum size of 3333/4331/T 2P/ Strings.
8. PRIZES
8.1. The prize for the winner will consist of:
8.1.1.The title of ‘BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician 2026’ (the title should be used in full on any print publicity and not abbreviated); and
8.1.2.A further performance on BBC Radio Scotland during 2026.
8.2. The prize is as stated and cannot be deferred or transferred. There will be no cash alternatives.
8.3. The names of each entrant whose entry is broadcast or used online will be made public. Entrants must agree to take part in any post-Award publicity, if required.
8.4. The BBC reserves the right to disqualify any entry which breaches any of these Rules or to withhold or withdraw a prize if, in its opinion, entries do not reach the required standard.
9. GENERAL
9.1. The BBC shall cover reasonable travel expenses for the semi-final and final competitors, all of which must be agreed with the BBC prior to booking.
9.2. Entrants retain all rights in their entries but grant to the BBC a non-exclusive, worldwide, perpetual licence to broadcast their entry across all media (including use in all media now known or which may hereafter become known), including use on any online platforms.
9.3. Entrants warrant that they have obtained all rights necessary to grant the BBC the licence as set out in clause 9.2 above, and that their entry does not infringe the rights of any other party. The BBC accepts no liability if entrants ignore these Rules and entrants agree to fully indemnify the BBC against any claims by any third party arising from any breach of these Rules.
9.4. Entrants permit the BBC to edit or change entries in any way it may, in its sole discretion, consider necessary for the purposes of but not limited to for use in the Award or for broadcast on the BBC and across its social media channels.
9.5. By entering the Award, entrants warrant that they have legal capacity to enter the Award and agree to be bound by these Rules.
9.6. A selection of entrants may also be interviewed by the BBC and these interviews may also be broadcast or used online. This will not be a part of, or have any influence on, the judging process. The BBC reserve the right to broadcast all semi-finalist and finalist performances.
9.7. The BBC is the organiser of this Award.
9.8. The BBC’s Terms of Use apply to this Award.
9.9. The Young Classical Award team may undertake social media checks of entrants to the Award. Entrants warrant they have not acted or omitted to act in a manner that will bring the BBC into disrepute. Where it deems appropriate, the BBC may require shortlisted entrants to undertake DBS checks, specifics of which will be agreed between the BBC and the entrant if required. Information discovered or that may have been disclosed by the entrants themselves will inform the decision as to the selection of the finalists. Disqualification will not be automatic but the decision is in the sole discretion of the BBC. Information will be shared with the BBC’s editorial policy advisor for the Award and be handled in the strictest confidence and as with all personal data, in accordance with the BBC’s Privacy Notice: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/articles/2RGT6FtGVl9tPGPlyyzH0Z0/2025-privacy-notice
9.10. The names of each entrant whose entry is broadcast or used online will be made public.
9.11. The BBC’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.
9.12. To the extent permitted by law, the BBC will not be liable for any loss or damage (whether such damage or losses were foreseen, foreseeable, known or otherwise) including financial, reputational loss or disappointment.
9.13. Entrants are reminded that their participation in BBC Awards, contests and talent searches (including winning or receiving a highly commended award) cannot be used in commercial advertising or promotions, to attract external funding, to lobby or campaign, or to attract donations. Any queries in these areas are to be directed in advance to the BBC.
9.14. The BBC reserve the right to amend these Rules or cancel this Award at any stage, if deemed necessary in its opinion, and if circumstances arise outside its control. In this event, a notice will be posted on the BBC Radio Scotland website.
9.15. The BBC, their sub-contractors, subsidiaries and/or agencies cannot accept any responsibility whatsoever for any technical failure or malfunction, nor for any other problem with any server, internet access, system, the post or otherwise which may result in any entry being lost or not properly registered or recorded. Proof of sending is not proof of receipt.
9.16. The BBC’s editorial guidelines apply to this Award: https://www.bbc.co.uk/editorialguidelines/guidance/audience-interactivity/part-b
9.17. These Terms and Conditions are governed by the law of England and Wales.
