Rotary Club of Newark Young Musician of the Year contest returns to Barnbygate Methodist Church

The winners have been announced for this year's Newark Young Musicians Competition.

After a two-year break because of the covid, the competition ­— sponsored by the Rotary Club of Newark ­— returned for its 20th year.

Open to primary school children, there were two initial heats at Barnby Road Academy, Academy.

Fourteen children were selected to compete at the grand final at Barnbygate Methodist Church.

The competition covers piano, brass, woodwind and string sections as well as performances by the participating school orchestras and choirs.

This year, Newark Rotary Club had a new judge in Squadron Leader Richard Murray, from the RAF College Cranwell.

This year finalists were from Coddington, Highfields and Barnby Road schools, with choirs from Coddington and Barnby Road, and orchestras from Barnby Road and Highfields.

The winners were Jacky Cai in the piano category, Daisy Wyatt for brass, Regan King for woodwind and Winnie Nicholson for strings.

The overall winner and Young Musician of 2023 was cornet player Daisy Wyatt.

A representative from Barnby Road Academy said: ““The competition is a celebration of our local young musicians and an opportunity to perform in front of a large audience.

“There were lots of nerves and excitement about the event but everyone performed their best and enjoyed the opportunity to share what they have been practising recently.”

The evening closed with thanks from the President of the Rotary Club of Newark, Ian Glenny, who thanked the competitors, parents and schools for all their hard work, and for the large and enthusiastic audience of families and friends.

There was a leaving collection for the Rotary President's annual charity, Guide Dogs for the Blind, which raised £106.