2027 · 34th annual competition
Your music. Your moment.
The Northern Ireland Young Musician Competition is for young solo musicians, singers included. Enter by 12 February, play at the heats in March, and you could be in the final on 20 March 2027.
Entries and music must arrive by 12 February 2027.
left to enter. Closing date 12 February 2027
- Instruments, ages 11 to 18
- Voice, ages 11 to 16
- Any solo instrument or voice, except organ
- Prizes up to £500
- £20 to enter
- Closes 12 February 2027
How it works
1
Enter
Fill in the form online and pay the £20 fee. Post your sheet music so it arrives by 12 February 2027.
2
The heats
Play your pieces, up to 8 minutes in all, on 6 or 13 March 2027 at Rosemary Street Presbyterian Church, Belfast. Every entrant gets a written adjudication.
3
The final
The finalists play on 20 March 2027 at Campbell College, Belfast, at 7pm, for the title and cash prizes.
What you could win
- Cash prizes of up to £500
- A prize for the most promising junior performer
- Written adjudication from a professional musician
- Media exposure
- Progression to the UK National competition
- Future performance opportunities
Well over 1,000 young musicians from all over the province have taken part since 1993.
Watch a final
The whole 2021 final, held at First Church Rosemary Street, Belfast.
In their words
Winning this competition has been the fulfilment of a dream come true. It was my third time trying to achieve such a prestigious award and to have finally done so means the world to me.
Gráinne White
Winning the competition was hugely encouraging and I feel it really spurred me on to continue with pursuing a life in music. For that, to the competition, I am very grateful.
Sean Morgan-Rooney
Winning the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year competition really increased my confidence in performance and inspired me to pursue a career in music.
Eva Richards
I’m grateful for the experience of playing in the NI Young Musician competition, seeing it as a valuable stepping stone in my musical career.
Tom Myles
Winning in 2015 has certainly changed my life for the better.
Cathryn Lynch
Past winners
2026
Jed Dunlop
Saxophone
2025
Senan Sheridan
Piano
2024
Daire Downey
Piano
2023
Evie Mills
Cello
2022
Jack Myles
Trombone
2021
Julie Piggott
Violin
2020
Jake Houston
Flute
2019
Rowel Friers
Piano
For parents
What it costs, who can enter, how the club looks after entrants and their details, and who to ask.