Pianist Oliver is Bishop’s Stortford High School’s Young Musician of the Year

Pianist Oliver Philcox, a Year 13 student, claimed the title of Young Musician of the Year 2014 after a close competition played out during the 35th Bishop’s Stortford High School annual music festival.

In the final Oliver, who played Prelude Op. 3 No 2 in C# Minor by Sergei Rachmaninoff, inched ahead of Year 10 tombonist Eli Haines – highly commended, and Year 13 singer Reme Hannan – commended, to take the top position.

The trio were among nine performers, each winners in their own heats earlier in the festival, who lined up to compete for the coveted title in front of a packed hall of parents, staff, and friends.

The other finalists were Jonathan Platts, woodwind, his brother Christopher, strings, Greg Leeman, classical guitar, George Cook, percussion, Joe Day, electric guitar, and Levi Williams, bass guitar.

“The level of competition between performers was outstanding and this made for a very tense time for the finalists whilst the adjudicator, Dr David Skinner, director of music at Sidney Sussex College, Cambridge, deliberated his choice of winner,” said a school spokeswoman.

Every pupil placed first, second or third received commendation certificates including the winners of the beginner and intermediate finals – Louis Abbot and Lewis Mandel respectively.