Announcing the winners for the National Brass and Percussion competitions

We're delighted to announce the winners of Guildhall Young Artists' (GYA) National Brass and Percussion Competitions: Lucas Rebel, Yujian Huang, Connie Barakat, Nicky Palic, Lucie Hall, Emma Sandford, Ivy Zorzoliu, Jaydan Siu and Anna Richmond.

This year’s competitions highlighted the extraordinary talent of these emerging young musicians across the GYA network, community brass bands, music hubs, junior conservatoires and more.

Participants had the privilege of performing in front of an all-star panel of judges, as well as taking part in a workshops throughout the day to support their development. The workshops offered engaging, constructive feedback and valuable opportunities for students to play alongside peers of a similar level in a supportive environment.

The Winner and Highly Commended Student in each category, were as follows:

Under 13 Upper Brass:

• Winner: Lucas Rebel
• Highly Commended Student: Oscar Compton

Under 13 Lower Brass:

• Winner: Yujian Huang
• Highly Commended Student: Arthur Barker

Under 16 Upper Brass:

• Winner: Connie Barakat
• Highly Commended Student: Max Bovensiepen

Under 16 Lower Brass:

• Winner: Nicky Palic
• Highly Commended Student: Arthur Alsop

Under 19 Upper Brass:

• Winner: Lucie Hall

Under 19 Lower Brass:

• Winner: Emma Sandford
• Highly Commended Student: William Evans

Under 15 Percussion:

• Winner: Ivy Zorzoliu
• Highly Commended Student: Ivan Varga

Under 17 Percussion:

• Winner: Jaydan Siu
• Highly Commended Student: Archie Bloore

Under 19 Percussion:

• Winner: Anna Richmond
• Highly Commended Student: Lily Maynard Smith

Our adjudicators and tutors reflected on the day and shared with us:

Katy Elman, Director, Southern Percussion and Under 15 adjudicator said: "It was such a joy working with everyone at Guildhall Young Artists for the National Percussion Competition. It was truly inspiring to see so much energy and talent focused on making music together. While the competition was a highlight, it is only a moment in time; the friendships made throughout the day are what will truly follow these students for years to come. Trust me, you’ll find yourselves crossing paths with these same faces for the rest of your musical careers!"

Sacha L. Johnson, Principal Percussion, Chineke! Orchestra said: "The National Percussion Competition at Guildhall School is a fantastic event that showcases the next generation of percussion talent. As well as the competition element, I think that the workshops and overall emphasis on fun and enjoyment are vital ingredients for young players."

Richard Benjafield, Percussion adjudicator, Head of Wind, Brass & Percussion, Guildhall School said: "It was brilliant to see so many talented and creative percussionists on the National Percussion Day. As well as the competition, the day was about learning in a supportive and enjoyable atmosphere."

Carol Jarvis, Brass adjudicator said: “It was a real pleasure to adjudicate the young brass competitions and to work with the under 19 low brass group at the Guildhall Young Artists National Brass Competition. It’s a fantastic format for young musicians to access outstanding tutors and facilities, and I’m certain many of them will soon be professional colleagues…the future of brass playing is in very safe hands.”

Spencer Down, Creative Director, Guildhall Young Artists said: "At a time when the arts are often undervalued, it was fantastic to see so many brilliant young musicians performing at such a high standard. Massive thanks to our world‑class adjudicators for their top tips, inspiring words and incredible performances. Huge thanks as well to our sponsors for helping make it all possible: Southern Percussion, Phil Parker Ltd and Vincent Bach."

A huge thank you to our adjudicators mentioned above, our partners Phil Parker Ltd. and Southern Percussion, and all those involved in making this a successful and enjoyable day.

Find out more about Guildhall Young Artists, Guildhall School's network of centres that provides inspiring performing and production arts training for children and young people.