FLAUTIST Cosimo Dhami-Hounsome achieved a double win in the PwC Jersey Young Musician of the Year competition, which took place in the Great Hall at Victoria College.
Not only did the 16-year-old take the Young Musician crown on Saturday, he also won the Jersey Symphony Orchestra Award, which goes to the finalist whose performance shows they may benefit from a programme of working with the JSO over the next 12 months.
The event, organised by the Jersey Music Service and sponsored by long-term supporter PwC, is in its 32nd year and saw six gifted young local musicians compete for the title.
Hautlieu College student Cosimo hopes to pursue a career in music after taking his A-levels and plans to apply to a music college or conservatoire to study performance and composition.
His competitors were violinist Ed Clark (16), pianist Jason Hoare (17), drummer Matt Jackson (16), vocalist Poppy Pendergast (18) and 16-year-old trumpet player Summer Watkins.
The competition is part of Jersey Music Service’s provision for young Island musicians, which includes offering lessons in a variety of instruments and the chance to perform in a number of orchestras, choirs and ensembles as well as workshops and activities.
Dr Graham Cox, principal of the Jersey Music Service, said: “It is important for the Island because I think the quality of young musicians is really quite remarkable and something we should be very proud of.”
Each finalist had to win their category heat in the preliminary rounds, with the top award going to the musician who gave the most expressive and technically accomplished performance of their repertoire.
The competition was adjudicated by Siân Derry, assistant director of postgraduate studies at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and there was also a guest performance from last year’s winner, vocalist Sydney Haskins.
The younger musicians who had won their heats in the junior competition also received their awards on the night: Prutha Tejpal (Dorothy Chapman Trust String competition); Sophie Coates Rodriguez (Island Music Woodwind competition); Jasper Maddox (Premier Brass – brass competition) Alfred Kemp (Wendy Falla Piano competition) and Milleigh Milner (Jersey Vocal Trust – vocal competition).
As well as the coveted trophy, Cosimo also took home a cheque for £1,000, presented by PwC, in support of his ongoing music studies.
