Young musicians have been praised for their ‘high standard of playing’ at the finals of a borough-wide concerto competition.
Eight finalists aged 17 and 18 were selected from more than 60 applicants in the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra’s (WMSO) Young Musician Concerto Competition.
World-renowned violinist Tasmin Little was chair of the adjudication panel at St Piran’s Centre on Sunday.
She was joined by Leon Gee, WMSO conductor, Robert Roscoe, conductor laureate, and pianist Nigel Wilkinson.
WMSO chairman Dr Frances Jones said: “This year the standard was extraordinarily high.
“It was a real feast of music on show today. I did not envy the task of the adjudicators to choose a winner.”
First place was awarded to 18-year old saxophone player Maddie Stewart, from Yorkshire.
Maddie will perform a concerto with the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra next season.
She was also awarded an engraved glass trophy and £1,000 donated by Bishop Strings in London.
Tasmin Little said: “Maddie conveyed everything one could wish for. We were all spellbound by her performance.”
Violinist Chun-Yi Kang received the second prize of £250 and Royal Borough mayor, councillor Neil Knowles, awarded certificates to the winners.
Dr Jones thanked Handel Pianos of Sunningdale for the loan of a Bechstein piano for the day, and the Prince Philip Trust Fund and the Royal Borough for their financial support for the competition.
