Competition

Richard Yarr is one of Northern Ireland’s best-known Arts professionals: an award-winning Music and Arts producer with the BBC; a recognised innovator in the sector; and the recipient of a National Honour – an MBE for Services to Music. He is also a Deputy Lieutenant of the County Borough of Belfast. 

Richard has substantial experience of leading local government committees and charities. He is Chairperson of the Charles Wood Festival of Music & Summer School; Artistic Director of the Northern Ireland International Organ Competition, which he founded in 2011; a Music Advisor for CCEA (The Council for the Curriculum, Examinations & Assessment, NI) and Director of Music in Belfast’s oldest place of worship. In May 2024 Richard was appointed to the board of the Arts Council of Ireland/ An Chomhairle Ealaíon following a Public Appointments process. In his 5-year term he will lead the development of a new 10-year Arts strategy for the Republic of Ireland.

Richard is Music Fellow at Lichfield Cathedral School in Staffordshire and Patron of both the Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year Competition and the Lagan Festival of Speech, Drama, Music & Art. He co-ordinated the BBC’s national coverage of Derry~Londonderry UK City of Culture in 2013 and, as a strong advocate of Arts partnerships, created BBC Northern Ireland’s School Choir of the Year Competition in 2015 – a partnership between the BBC, the Arts Council of Northern Ireland and the National Youth Choir of Northern Ireland. Richard is also a Fellow of the Royal Society of Arts and a Freeman of the City of London.

Jonathan was the winner of the 1997 Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year competition.

Belfast-born Jonathan Byers began playing the cello aged seven, and went on to study at the Royal Academy of Music in London with David Strange and Jennifer Ward Clarke. As a founder member of the Badke Quartet, he was winner of the 1st prize and audience prize in the 5th Melbourne International Chamber Music Competition in 2007. The Quartet performed at festivals in the UK and abroad, including the Aldeburgh and Verbier Festivals and in such venues as London’s Wigmore Hall and Kings Place, Musikverein in Vienna, Concertgebouw in Amsterdam and frequently broadcasted on BBC Radio 3.

Jonathan enjoys a busy freelance career performing as guest principal with many orchestras and period instrument groups, including the Academy of Ancient Music, Gabrieli Consort, Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, Classical Opera Company, La Serenissima, Scottish Chamber Orchestra and the Early Opera Company. He also plays with the Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and is currently Co-Principal cellist with the English Concert and the Irish Baroque Orchestra. In 2011, Jonathan was made an Associate of the Royal Academy of Music, an honorary award for former students of the Academy who have made a notable contribution to the music profession. Jonathan performs on a c.1750 cello by John Johnson and a fine Italian cello from c.1730s made possible by the Stradivari Trust.

Evie Mills on cello from Methodist College, Belfast was declared the 2023 Northern Ireland Young Musician.

Paige McDonald on concert harp from Royal Irish Academy was runner up; third place was shared by Harry Douglas from Grosvenor Grammar School on flute and Theodore Hayward from Belfast Royal Academy on viola. Sienna Whiteman from Methodist College won the most promising under 16 competitor on violin.
Adjudicator Richard Yarr said it was incredible to be there and to experience such a high level of performances, and he went on to advise on aspects which could raise the standards even higher.

Twelve young musicians gathered in the impressive surroundings of the Great Hall at Campbell College, to find out who would be the 2022 Northern Ireland Young Musician of the year, organised by Comber Rotary. Our adjudicator, Jonathan Rea, commented on the amazingly high standard of music making. The passion and commitment that all the competitors showed meant that he faced a tough challenge in selecting the prizewinners.

Each performer was introduced and interviewed by John Toal (BBC NI), and after an evening of wonderful performances, first place was awarded to Jack Myles, a pupil at Regent House School. Jonathan commented that Jack “sang through the trombone”.

Evie Mills from Methodist College was runner up with her powerful account of the Elgar cello concerto, while third place was taken by Paige McDonald, who entranced the audience with her performance on the harp. A special award for the most promising junior musician went to 14 year old Senan Sheridan for his very accomplished piano playing.

The final of the 2021 competition was held on 1st May in First Church Rosemary Street Belfast. We were delighted to be able to hold a live final in these challenging times, and we were treated to an afternoon of exceptional music making from ten young finalists.

Our adjudicators Richard Yarr and Gillian McCutcheon commented on the very high standard of performance, and commended the competitors on their commitment and musicianship. Many of the finalists remarked how pleased they were to have the opportunity to enjoy some live music making.

The winner was Julie Piggott (violin); runner up was Jack Myles (trombone), and Robert Henderson took third place, playing recorder.

The ethos of the competition is to encourage aspiring young musicians to improve their performance skills in public, and as such every finalist is a winner – those who also competed were Harry Douglas (flute), Aoife Downey (voice), Daire Downey (piano), Anna Freel (voice), Jonny Hayward (double bass), James Kelly (electric guitar) and Nicholas Thomas (trumpet).

The entire final is available to watch:

The 2020 Northern Ireland Young Musician is Jake Houston from Cambridge House Grammar School. The standard of this year’s competition was amazing – possibly the best ever – making for a wonderful feast of music for the large, appreciative audience.

Runner-up was Jack Myles from Regent House, and Julie Piggott, also from Wallace High School, was awarded third place. The prize for the most promising young player went to Evie Mills who is a student at Methodist College. Flautist Jake played “Bali Moods” by Anne Boyd and “Presto” by Enesco; trombonist Jack played the second movement of Seroki’s Sonatina and “White-knuckle Ride” by Wilby. Julie’s choice was a set of Romanian Folk Dances by Bartók, and cellist Evie played “Allegro Appassionato” by Saint-Saëns and “Prayer”-from “Jewish Life” by Bloch.

The competition was launched by the Rotary Club of Comber in 1993 and has often been marked by different members coming through from the same family. However, this year produced the first family double as Jake’s big brother Ross won the title in 2018.

The adjudicator for the heats was clarinettist Gillian McCutcheon who performed as soloist and chamber musician. She is often in demand as a teacher and adjudicator, and as a reviewer for BBC Radio Ulster, Gillian has also travelled the world as an examiner for Trinity College London.

The adjudicator for the final was Richard Yarr who is Senior Producer, Arts and Music with BBC Northern Ireland. He is much in demand as an adjudicator, and presents BBC Radio Ulster’s Sunday evening request programme “Sounds Sacred”. Richard also received the Freedom of the City of London last year, recognising his work with young musicians.

Comber Rotary wish to thank Holywood Parish Church and Campbell College for hosting the heats and final respectively, accompanist Michael Harrison, and principal sponsors The Kerr Henderson Group and Dalriada Trustees.

The 2019 Northern Ireland Young Musician of the Year is Rowel Friers who is a student at Sullival Upper School. Rowel started his first formal piano lessons with Mrs. Christine Isdell at the tender age of five years old and has enjoyed creating music on the piano ever since. From the age of 9, he has regularly performed in Stormont Buildings and other places to help charities raise funds. Today he enjoys playing a wide-ranging repertoire from classical to jazz, extrovert to intimate, bravado to reflective and has been performing concerts since he was five years old.

Among his many achievements, Rowel has Distinctions in all the ABRSM graded examinations for piano, all attained before the age of 14. In addition, he has distinctions in ABRSM Theory. He has recently attained the Licentiate of Trinity College London (LTCL) and in 2017 he received the highest marks ever awarded in the province for the Associate Trinity College London (ATCL).