Young Musician
Bewdley Youth Festival is holding the tenth annual music Wyre Forest Young Musician of the Year competition for young musicians who are in education and who either live in, or attend school, 6th form or college in the Wyre Forest district.
The competition is open to young people with a minimum age of 12 and a maximum age of 18 as of 31 December 2025.
The competition will take place during the evening of Saturday 14th March 2026, after which the Category Winners and the Young Musician of the Year will be chosen.
Should the number of entries received mean that it would be difficult for all performers to be fitted into the evening event preliminary heats will be held during the afternoon.
The categories for the competition are:
- Classical Music Section (Instrumentalists and Singers)
- Solo Instrumentalist (non-classical)
- Solo Singer (accompanied or unaccompanied)
- Group (two or more members, acoustic or amplified)
In addition, prizes will be awarded for:
- The Wyre Forest Young Musician of the Year
- The Bewdley Festival prize for best original composition
-The Best Young Musician aged 14 or Under (as at 31 December 2025)
Competition Rules:
- Competitors will perform one piece of their own choice with a maximum performance time of 4 minutes.
- Competitors may perform from memory or from sheet music.
- Where possible, solo competitors should be accompanied by a single instrument in sympathy with the performance; vocalistsmay accompany themselves. CD backing tracks may be used if no accompanist is available.
- Competitors can enter more than one category.
- Competitors performing their own composition will automatically be entered for the Best Original Composition prize.
- Acoustic and electronic pianos will be provided for competitors or their accompanists. A drum kit and amplifiers will beprovided for competitors using electric guitars and bass guitars.
- Competitors should wherever possible provide their own accompanists (should this prove difficult please contact theorganisers).
- The competition will be open to the viewing public, and all competitors are encouraged to bring supporters and to stay andsupport their fellow competitors.
- Entry to the Evening event will be £7 for adults and free for those aged under 19 or those currently in education. Tickets can bepurchased online or from the café at St George’s Hall.
- Entries not sent through the school or college attended by the entrant will be verified with the educational establishment.
Please send completed entry forms by Monday 16th February 2026 to:
Youth Music Competition
Bewdley Festival, St George’s Hall, Load Street, Bewdley, DY12 2EQ
eMail: admin@bewdleyfestival.org.uk