Every seat was taken at Wolverhampton Music School on Sunday, February 9th for the District 1210 final of the 2025 Rotary Young Musician Competition. 7 clubs across the District had sent forward winning instrumentalists and vocalists from their own heats to compete for a place in the next round, which will be the cluster final on March 9th, prior to the national final on March 29th, due to be held at New City College, Romford, Essex.
Bususu Chen with DG Jane Cooper and Dudley President Graham Dean.
Owen White with DG Jane Cooper and Bilston President ‘Bobby’ Singh.
Adjudicators Huw Daniel MA and Ian Stephenson confessed they had difficult choices to make in view of the outstanding performances given by the young musicians. After considerable discussion they decided that 16 year old pianist Bususu Chen, sponsored by the Rotary club of Dudley was the winning instrumentalist and vocalist 17 year old Owen White, sponsored by Rotary in Bilston the winning vocalist.
Bususu Chen’s programme comprised ‘Prelude from Partita’ by Bach, ‘Etude no.7’ by Chopin and ‘Mercutio’ by Prokofiev. In his feedback Huw Daniel gave high praise to her musicology and phrasing. Ian Stephenson made particular mention of Owen White’s stage presence and ability to draw in the audience with his renderings of ‘On The Street Where You Live’ by Lerner and Loewe, ‘Se Vuol Ballare’ by Mozart and ‘Stars’ by Schonberg, Kretzmer and Bougill.
The remarkable ensemble.
In presenting the trophies, District Governor Jane Cooper thanked all the competitors for treating the audience to an outstanding afternoon of entertainment which had shown the remarkable talents of young musicians from right across the District.
Richard Green,
Organiser, District 1210 Rotary Young Musician Competition.