The 2015 Bromsgrove International Young Musicians’ Competition has marked its 35th anniversary – helped in part through sponsorship from leading local law firm mfg Solicitors.
The prestigious young musicians’ competition, held over five days in the Routh Hall at Bromsgrove School, featured 54 of the world’s best, drawn from a variety of countries including Russia, Lithuania and China.
Almost 300 music lovers packed into the venue to listen to each performer who were judged by a team of three internationally-acclaimed adjudicators, led by conductor Edmond Fivet CBE. Four performers were chosen to go through to the final.
The law firm’s chairman Maynard Burton, who is also chair of trustees at co-sponsors the Helen Rachel Mackaness Trust, which awards grants to artists and musicians, presented the £5,000 first prize, which was donated by the trust, to winner Jamal Aliyev.
The 21-year-old cellist from Turkey began playing the cello at the age of five and recently recorded his debut CD. He currently studies under the tutelage of Professor Thomas Carroll at the Royal College of Music.
The prize also honours the winners with recital opportunities with Bromsgrove Concerts, the Three Choirs Festival and the Birmingham Conservatoire.
Mr Burton said: “mfg Solicitors and the Helen Rachel Mackaness Trust were delighted and honoured to be involved with such a prestigious event. The calibre of young musicians was outstanding but Jamal Aliyev was a very worthy winner and his performance was stunning.”
His Honour Ian Morris, a retired judge and the current chairman of the Bromsgrove International Young Musicians’ Competition, added: “We are enormously grateful for the support we have received from mfg Solicitors and all our other generous partners and sponsors without whom this wonderful competition would not have survived to celebrate this our 35th anniversary year. The number of applicants this year and their positive comments show the competition going from strength to strength.”
mfg Solicitors also hosted a private reception prior to the finalists’ concert which was attended by 50 dignitaries from West Midlands, including Business Secretary, the Rt. Hon. Sajid Javid MP.
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