Violinists Emmanuel Bach and Savitri Grier and pianist Osman Tack, who are all 19 years old, will each perform a concerto of their choice before a panel of five judges at the Sheldonian Theatre on Saturday 4 February at 7.30pm.

The idea for this new competition was conceived jointly by the county's Music Service and Oxford Philomusica to showcase and reward young musical talent in the region. 

The trio will face judges Marios Papadopoulos, the director of Oxford Philomusica and an acclaimed international pianist; Tony Mealings, the Head of Oxfordshire County Council's Music Service; Jennifer Pike the violinist and BBC Young Musician of the Year winner; John Traill conductor and composer; and Caroline Hobbs-Smith flautist, teacher and conductor.

The event, which is open to the public, will be presented by the former BBC producer and composer, Chris de Souza.

The background

The competition began in August last year and was open to all Oxfordshire residents or students aged 19 or under, who were not professional performers or teachers of music, but had attained Grade 8+ or equivalent as a singer or instrumentalist.

All contestants were required to send a recording or attend an audition. From this eight instrumentalists were chosen to take part in the semi-finals where they were required to play one movement from a concerto with Oxfordshire’s top student orchestra, the County Youth Orchestra conducted by John Traill.

This took place at the Centre for Music, home of the county music service, on Saturday 21 January which attracted a huge audience.

Tony Mealings, Head of Oxfordshire County Council’s Music Service, said: “The standard of the entries for this competition was amazingly high. The students in the County Youth Orchestra were thrilled to be able to play with such talented students in the semi-final and also have the chance to play movements from a wide repertoire of concertos.”

The three finalists

From the semi-finals in January, three finalists were carefully selected:

Emmanuel Bach, aged 19, began playing the violin at the age of five. He is now studying music at Magdalen College and has given concerts across the UK, appeared on the concert platform in France, Italy and South Africa, and given a number of performances for charity.

Savitri Grier, aged 19, took up her first violin aged four, and then attended the Junior Royal Academy of Music for 10 years. She has already performed at Wembley Arena and the Barbican, and will make her Royal Albert Hall debut in May. She is currently reading Music at Christ Church.

Osman Tack, aged 19, is a piano scholar at St John’s College. He has played with the Thames Vale Youth Orchestra, and the Abingdon School Orchestra, and his piano trio - clarinet and cello - has twice won the Pro Corda national chamber competition.

The prizes

The winner of the Oxford Concerto Competition will receive a cash prize of £1000 plus an invitation to play a concerto with Oxford Philomusica in their next Sheldonian Series. Both runners up will receive £300 plus £250 worth of Oxford Philomusica concert tickets.

Marios Papadopoulos, Music Director of Oxford Philomusica, said: “This new competition provides a platform for outstanding musical talent in the region, which must be spotted and nurtured. I hope that it will become an annual event and that we will be able to identify and assist the rising classical music stars of the future.”

The Concerto Competition is open to the public and tickets are available from Oxford Philomusica box office: 01865 980 980, price £10, £15, £22 and £30. Or visit: http://www.oxfordphil.com/.