About West Suffolk Young Musician

The West Suffolk Young Musician Competition aims to foster music-making by local young musicians. The competition is open to young musicians living in West Suffolk or attending schools in the area.

Young musicians taking part in the competition should go straight to the Competition menu for the latest information.

Individuals can support us by becoming a Member.

West Suffolk Young Musician is a member of Making Music. The competition is supported by Balaam's Music, Music Sales Group, G Signs & Design and the Suffolk Sinfonia.

Preliminary heats

The preliminary heats will be held in Bury St Edmunds during February. Competitors may enter for

• Strings (including classical guitar),
• Woodwind,
• Brass,
• Piano and
• Voice.

Each entry must be at one of three levels:

• level 1 is equivalent to grades 3-4,
• level 2 to grades 5-6, and
• level 3 to grade 7 and above.

All competitors will perform music at that level and of their own choice lasting less than 5 minutes. For each group there will be a winner at each level. All winners will perform in the Finalists’ Concert.

Entry form

You can download an entry form using this link.

Competition prizes

There will be prizes for all the finalists, but only the winners of levels 2 and 3 will be considered for the title of West Suffolk Young Musician.

Finalists' concert

There will be a public concert by the winners of levels 2 and 3, who will perform a programme of their own choice. The programme must last less than 5 minutes for levels 2, or 8 minutes for level 3. The level 1 winners will present a "Showcase Performance" during the adjudicators' deliberations. The concert will be held in the Theatre Royal, Bury St Edmunds, in July. A panel of adjudicators will select two winners, one at each level, and an overall winner who will be declared West Suffolk Young Musician.