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Keyboard Category Final

Episode 5 of 8

Five exceptional young pianists are hoping to impress as they attempt to win the keyboard category and take the last remaining place in the semi-final.

Five exceptional young pianists are hoping to impress as they attempt to win the keyboard category and take the last remaining place in this year's BBC Young Musician semi-final. Filmed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, presenter Josie d'Arby is joined by pianist Lucy Parham, herself a former Young Musician finalist, who provides expert analysis of each performance.

Competing are: 19-year-old Adam Heron from Cheltenham; 16-year-old Lauren Zhang from Birmingham; 16-year-old Elias Ackerley from Wrexham, north Wales; from Nottingham 15-year-old Jeneba Kanneh-Mason; and Mariam Loladze-Meredith from Stockport who's also 15 years old.

The people they need to impress are our expert jury: Ronan O'Hora, head of keyboard studies and head of advanced performance studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; international concert pianist and chamber musician Tom Poster, who himself competed in BBC Young Musician in 2000; and chair of the jury, composer, performer and writer, Kerry Andrew.

BBC Young Musician has been showcasing the very best British classical music talent for the past 40 years. The winner from this keyboard final will join the winners from strings, percussion, woodwind and brass to take their place in the semi-final. There they will compete for the chance to perform in the grand final at Symphony Hall, Birmingham with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. One will be named BBC Young Musician 2018.

1 hour, 30 minutes

Music Played

  • Ed Sheeran

    Castle On The Hill

  • Vladimir Horowitz

    Barcarolle, Op. 60

  • Shout Out Louds

    Oh Oh

  • Frédéric Chopin

    Barcarolle In F Sharp Major, Op. 60

Credits

RoleContributor
PresenterJosie d'Arby
CommentatorLucy Parham
ProducerAnwen Rees
Executive ProducerPaul Bullock
Series ProducerMartyn Stevens
DirectorSian Parry
Production ManagerJo Marks

Broadcast