Six Competing for 'The Marlowe Young Musician of the Year'

SIX musicians will be competing for the title of The Marlowe Young Musician of the Year.

The talented youngsters, aged between 16 and 18, are on stage at The Marlowe Theatre, Canterbury, on Tuesday 3 February for the competition. They will be accompanied by the Kent Concert Orchestra, conducted by John Perkins. Classic FM's Jane Jones will host the evening.

The finalists are: Govind Dhiman (16), who plays the piano and is a student at Ashford School; Niamh O'Shea (17), viola, Kent College, Canterbury, Yuma Kitahara (16), clarinet, Westminster School, London, Lara Caister (17), violin, Purcell School, Bushey, George Harrington (16), tuba, King's Rochester, and Juliet Wolff (16), cello, King's School Canterbury.

There were a record number of entries for the contest, now in its 24th year. John Perkins said: "The task of whittling down the young people from 26 to six was tough, so I know that the standard of the final will be high, the competition fierce and the decision difficult - it all makes for a great night's entertainment!

"Former winners have gone on to be principals with London orchestras and leading soloists. Trumpeter Matilda Lloyd, who won in 2013, was named the 2014 BBC Young Musician Of The Year, and the 2014 BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Player Of The Year, the first trumpeter to do so."

Matilda (pictured) will be making a guest appearance on Tuesday, joining the KCO for a performance of the Haydn Trumpet Concerto.

The winner will receive the Kent Messenger trophy and a three-hour recording session at the New Eden Studio. All finalists are awarded a prize, donated by sponsors.

Tickets for The Marlowe Young Musician Of The Year, which starts at 7.30pm, are £14 and £16 (concessions available; booking fee applies), from the Box Office on 01227 787787 or marlowetheatre.com.