The final of Radio 2’s Young Brass Soloist 2009 was broadcast on Radio 2 on Friday 27 February.

  See pictures of the finalists


Stephen Sykes, an 18 year old trombonist from Somerset, has been named Radio 2’s Young Brass Soloist 2009.

Stephen, who is principal trombone of The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, performed Hoagy Carmichael’s 'Stardust' and Philip Wilby’s 'White Knuckle Ride' during the final.

The other performers who competed in the final of the competition were:

David Moore aged 19 from Stalybridge - Flugel Horn
Mathew White aged 18 from Lancashire - Euphonium
Lauren Reeve-Rawlings aged 17 from Wiltshire - French Horn

The event was held at The Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and was hosted by Frank Renton.  All the finalists performed their chosen pieces of music accompanied by The Black Dyke Band and conductor Nicholas Childs. The two judges for the finals were composer Edward Gregson and Nigel Seaman, principal tuba with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales.

As winner, Stephen receives an invitation to perform alongside a championship standard Brass Band with a guaranteed broadcast on Radio 2, and an appearance on the network’s flagship live music programme Friday Night is Music Night.