The three BBC Young Musician 2024 finalists are:
- Violinist Shlomi Shahaf (17), born in Israel and raised in Ukraine, currently studying at the Purcell School
- Pianist Ryan Wang (17) from Vancouver Canada, and currently studying on a music scholarship at Eton College
- Pianist Jacky Zhang (16) from Surrey, a piano and composition student at the Royal College of Music
Shlomi, Ryan and Jacky were announced as finalists today [Sunday 13 October], during the BBC Four and BBC iPlayer broadcast of the BBC Young Musician 2024 semi-final, which was recorded in July at The Great Hall, Swansea University (Bay Campus). The three finalists made it through to this stage of the competition from a group of six semi-finalists.
Highlights from the Grand Final – which was recorded at Bristol Beacon on Tuesday 24 September – are on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 20 October, with the event broadcast in full on the same date on BBC Four, BBC iPlayer, BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds. Introduced by saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam – who presents all the rounds of BBC Young Musician 2024 – Shlomi, Ryan and Jacky compete for the title, each performing a concerto accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and conductor Ben Gernon.
Also returning in Autumn 2024 in its 10th Anniversary year is BBC Young Jazz Musician, focusing on some of the most talented up-and-coming musicians and singers on the British jazz scene. During the final, taking place at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Saturday 23 November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival and broadcast on BBC TV later in the Autumn, four finalists will compete for the title, all hoping to follow in the footsteps of BBC Young Jazz Musician 2022 winner double bassist Ewan Hastie.
BBC Young Musician 2024 and BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 are managed and produced by BBC Studios Music and Entertainment Wales and the Commissioning Editor is Stephen James-Yeoman.
Why were Jamal, brilliant on the harp, and Hugo, an equally exceptional cellist excluded from the final? The two pianists were good at hammering the keys and overworking the pedals, but otherwise neither displayed true finesse.
I totally agree and so do my daughter and son! We did choose Ryan but we thought the young woman violinist was far better than Shlomi…..and that Harpist was absolutely outstanding…I shouldn’t be all about technique!! OR dare I sat it, political!!
I also totally agree. To exclude Jamal is an outrage. On another issue, the new format simply doesn’t work. jamal had already beaten Ryan in the ‘quarter final’ yet was booted out by Ryan in the semis. If the BBC wants to have outright winners in the ‘quarters’, they should be given an immediate pass into the final. Then have a ‘semi’ (but don’t call it that) in which the other four compete for the final place. Some serious thinking needs to be done along with a reappraisal of what makes a competent judge!
Fully agree on Hugo.Could listen to him all night.
How can the judges be taken seriously when they are taking no notes to support the continued improvement of these three learners. Ridiculous!
It seems like some of the comments are very much into Shlomi’s country of origin. Shame on you. So many specialists are here.
Sounds like a hate speech.
The pianists were brilliant.
The hateful comments should be removed. Especially those reflecting the origin and political context.
Very disappointed by the judges’ decision. Not clear to me why the format has been changed this year – why can’t we have the semi-final including the winner of each class of instrument? Whilst, obviously, all semi-finalists are good – to me it was clear that Hugo (cellist) has genuine musical integrity, rather than the flashy showmanship that the judges seemed to prefer. Have found this year’s competition frustrating and irritating. Sorry!
I totally agree!
I can only wholehearted agree with the above 2 comments and felt 2 of the judges were woke muppet choices
Yup. BBC trying to show it’s not being exclusive. I also heard that there was no woodwind or brass finals, but haven’t been able to check on this. The audience numbers were down by a significant number – wonder why…
I thought Jamal, Hugo and Maya were the obvious choices for the final. Shlomi was painful to listen to at times. Laboured and too many flat notes. As already noted, the pianists could certainly hit the notes, but lacked any kind of finesse. Jamal and Hugo have something special. Maya much better violinist than Shlomi. As soon as Alison Balsom spoke about Shlomi’s potential for the future (despite ‘playing like a teenager’), I knew where it was heading. Should it not be based on the performances on the day? It’s hard to think that this wasn’t a political decision, as so much was made of his country of origin. The competition needs specialist judges, as I feel was the case in previous years. Don’t know if I will watch the final. The competition has been so disappointing this year.
Agree! The format of the competition has been a turnOFF.
Where are the woodwind, brass and percussion finalists. Two pianists playing the same piece is dull I’m afraid, despite it being my favourite piano concerto.
In previous years there were specialist musicians and instrumentalists on panels for each of the 5 different categories. Sadly missed this year. Judges were really out of their depth though not really their fault.
BBC has reduced this to a reality tv show.
I know reputable teachers who will not be putting forward their students in the future if this current format remains.
Why were the rules changed to accommodate certain performers mid way through the competition?The quarter finalists all received e mails out of the blue to say they could change their choice of concerto. Rules state concertos should be 30 mins max. Just a coincidence that the two pianists will be playing concertos longer than 30 mins in the final ?
Ryan was the class of the field – not sure how anyone can suggest he lacked finesse! His Chopin was truly the performance of the day. I think he was a complete standout and the only one “undeniable” for the final.
Jamal was outperformed in the semis; the other harpist had played ” Tarantula” better in the quarter finals.
Hugo was great and one of my favourites but I do see why they went for Shlomi. Maya I enjoyed a lot too and was expecting for her to be ahead of Jacky but I can see why he made it. His Medtner was incredible and raw.
Aside from Ryan who was the class of the field that night, an argument could have been made for any of them. And yes, both a string specialist and a serious pianist on the panel wouldn’t have gone amiss. The result might have been the same but with better arguments.
The judges hear the performance live which is different.
I agree. We were at the final and were initially disgruntled that only male performers had been chosen. We obviously hadn’t seen all the quarter and semi-finals at this stage. However, Ryan definitely was the best pianist and played the Rachmaninov with such feeling that the auditorium erupted at the end (as I think you can see). He really energised the orchestra in a way the other two didn’t (although they were all brilliant), and personally, moved me in a way Jacky and Shlomi didn’t. It is, though, a bad format that the BBC have now adopted – perhaps because of costs? We thought Jamal was amazing and the other harpist as well as Hugo and Finn. There should have been more women in the semi-finals as there was plenty of talent. We need to have other instruments valued but how you choose between them all is still going to be difficult. The previous format was definitely more equitable than this one.
However, all the finalists deserve every good wish for their future as they are wonderful instrumentalists and their nationality should not be an issue for anyone. Be kind people!
What on earth has happened to this competition this year. I’m watching a highlights programme of the final but was expecting it to be live and in full as previously. The new format means we are hearing the same concerto twice although there will be different interpretations of course. I’m also surprised that they haven’t had specialist judges as in the past. It feels like the competition has been reduced in status from what it used to be. Such a pity.
Saving costs ? Bringing diversity to the judging panel ticking boxes
and then award it to the Etonian !
You couldn’t make it up !!
the best comment of the day!
Yes, but Ryan is at Eton on a scholarship; it would be hard for any parent to deny their child that opportunity. His performance at the final (whatever the rights or wrongs of him and the others being finalists) was outstanding. He showed a deep feeling for the music, with flair, nuance, sensitivity and and an ability to convey the music in a way that drew you in and held you.
These three young people tried their best and gave their all- this should be remembered.
However agreed with some comments above, that more specialists are needed to judge.
He is on a scholarship from Canada at Eton. I don’t like the public school ethos at all but, sadly, they have the money and resources to nurture talent, which he has. Do you think it’s easy for him to move away from his family and to another country? I don’t but it seems this is the only way to help talented individuals.
More problematic is the fact that most young people at state schools don’t get the opportunities to shine or find their musical talent in our very unequal society. The Welsh government had an initiative, here, to offer music lessons to lots of children in primary schools a couple of years ago. Of course, they ran out of money very quickly…
I did not feel the quality if the judges did justice to the performers. We needed instrument specialists to make a proper judgement. I can understand teachers feeling their students are short changed by these generic judges.
Jamal and Hugo were the stand out performers with real finesse and musicality.
Also the coverage was mad. I was at the final and we were exhorted several times to zip the lip about who the finalists were and who won. There was an obvious way around this problem … a live broadcast.
I feel the judges were influenced by flashiness over musicality.
There needs to be some rethinking for next time in order for this competition to retain its credibility and status.
Totally agree
As a regular viewer of Young Musician I am appalled that it has been so downgraded this year. Obviously the choice of finalists is subjective to some extent of but two pianists and a violinist – really! Why have we lost the category finals and why are the judges constant throughout.
Shame on you BBC for sacrificing talent at the altar of cost.
I completely agree with this and most of the other comments above. I learned nothing from the mostly banal remarks of the judges. The competitors were mostly extraordinary and I don’t feel qualified to make the fine judgements required to choose but the format this year and the judges are definitely a backward step.
I just had the misfortune to watch the young musician final on BBC2, overblown and dumbed down, with pointless judges and the saxophonist woman presenter (name forgotten) continually asking for applause. So tacky.
This year’s competition has been weird and feels dumbed down. Agree with previous comments re lack of specialist judges – only one really fulfilled the brief for such a competition. The absence of instrument categories resulted in a lack of balance amongst the players. Hugo was the stand out musician for me throughout and it is a shame he didn’t get through to the final, he had real musical integrity, as oppose to showmanship. Jamal also was exceptional. Ryan was a worthy winner on the night but the whole competition was a very disappointing format. Some of the other musicians took part in the various rounds must feel quite short changed.
Agree with much of what’s been said above, particularly lack of specialist judges, specialist categories semis, showmanship favoured over finesses and the information which we have only now gleaned about length of concertos being miraculously set then overlooked, and the final audience for the final being sworn to secrecy rather then the event being a live broadcast.
The point about the ‘wild card’ idea making a mockery of the quarter final/semis is a very serious one and should never be repeated. What a ridiculous mistake for the BBC to make.
Ridiculous set of judges. Specialist judges in the particular instruments are needed. Both pianists playing the same piece? Cameras cutting to the judges all the time? One judge saying the violinist will be one of the greatest. Getting more like a Strictly set up!
Totally agree. Abysmal
Agreed on all points. No harm to Shlomi, but he will sink without trace. He is no Nicola Benedetti. The Tchaikovsky needs a level of skill and lightness of touch that he just does not have. The judges didn’t even have the scores! Unbelievable.
Your comment could be harm to Shlomi and I hope he doesn’t see it Having heard him live, I don’t think he will sink without trace and I hope he will succeed.
It’s looking more like the ‘X-Factor’. Perhaps it could be re-named ‘Lowest Common Denominator’ or maybe the BBC Piano Competition?
Two of the three finalists being pianists playing the same piece certainly wins the unintentional comedy prize.
What of the efforts to reach out to players from under-represented regions?
Such as Eton? Maybe the exercise ticked a box for someone?
Inane comments from the judges – most comments, all judges.
I suppose after the shambolic mauling Radio 3 recently got, we should have expected this.
The BBC appears to have got itself into a one-horse race to the bottom.
Shlomi should not have tried to play the Tschaikovsky – it was too obviously a struggle. Ryan was in a class of his own.
TV presentation was abominable, with coloured columns of lights ascending and descending at the back of the stage – ?keeping the audience amused when they got bored with listening? – boom camera launching itself over their heads – close-ups of judges with weepy eyes – the presenter asking utterly inane questions and making pointless announcements to the audience – the list just goes on and on.
The Proms are heading in exactly the same direction; it’s all spectacle these days.
Incidentally, with respect to the time limit for the concertos – back in 2000(?) when Guy Johnston played Shostakovich Cello 1, the ending of the slow movement (cello harmonics plus celeste) was simply cut out of the piece and not performed; of course, no-one said anything.
We didn’t get bored of listening but we were on the top tier of The Beacon and the lights and the SMOKE machine (why?) were right at our eyeline so were distracting.
jess Gillam handled it all brilliantly and asked the questions (we didn’t hear them) she was told to ask I assume. She was great with the audience and got us all on the side of the performers who were amazing. All of them.
An organisational and presentational disaster from start to finish. The inanity of the judges and their comments is what I will take away from this year’s competition. I don’t know anyone that thinks differently. The young musicians were badly let down.
I thought both Jacky and Ryan moved up a notch when they played Medtner and Chopin in the semi finals, instead of clever arrangements. I agree that the boy harpist and Hugo the cellist would have been worthy finalists. I was hoping to hear a harp concerto. Not so sure about Maya, whom I found extremely well drilled.
A change of judges to specialist experts would have been welcome at least for the final. And how distracting in the early rounds were people walking past in the background outside.
The most crass moments of all were the conductor telling us between movements how emotional the next movement would be, thus breaking the spell created by all three finalists. Presumably those present in the hall were spared that particular production disaster.
I am afraid to say, whoever put this program together have themselves to blame.
It sounds as if their musical knowledge is zero. They are appealing to the masses. I was very disappointed at the quality of the judges. If collectively political motives were at stake, then surely an Eton music scholar would not have been chosen to win. I myself thought he was a cut above the others. Also extremely concerned as to where this competition will be leading to in the future.
Defne, the female harp player, deserved so much more justice. In my opinion she played something daring that not even some professionals would have the guts to perform and she did it with perfect execution. Her performance was the only one out of all the quarter finalists that blew me away over the screen. Because they had already taken Jamal (also excellent) it felt they had to make up an excuse to get rid of Defne by commenting on her technique, which they had no space to comment on as none of them were harp players. There were many other musicians that got thrown on the sidelines like this, for example in the first round the first percussionist and the saxophone player in my opinion deserved to get through over the excess amount of violin players.
They have had to change the format for the program as the Woodwind finals and Brass finals would get significantly less views as the String and Piano finals. Though to over-come this there would be an easy solution of them having to pick 2 of each instrument family, in the same categories as before and then 2 wild cards. At this stage in the young musicians carer, the violinist’s and piano players will be of a higher standard as say a double bass player or a trombone player as you cannot start those instruments until much later.
I completely respect all the finalists and agree they are incredible musicians but part of me questions the competition on how none of them were UK citizens. I am not commenting on this because I have an issue with their race, but more on the issue on money and public music services in this country. There has been a lot of talk about how none of the semi finalists were at public schools and all had private education, but with the show accepting people who study in the UK and not living in the UK, how can the musicians who rely on public music services compete with the intonation students who have a lot of money and pay a lot of money for the music tuition they receive. I think Carys (the young trumpet player) and the other musicians from state education did remarkably well to reach this even playing field with the likes of Jacky who is already in his fourth year at RCM.
I am by no means un-validating the achievement of all these musicians that made it to the finals as everyone shown on the competition is hugely talented and have worked incredibly hard, but this is some food for thought.
Some excellent constructive feedback above. The sad thing is, the BBC will take notice of precisely none of it!
This used to be a great competition, seemingly now reduced to which performer can cause the judges to tear up the most.
Having just wallowed in several weeks of this amazing competition, I am really surprised to see the negativity on this site. I think you do have to start from the point of realising that anyone who tries judge the performance of a harpist v pianist v percussionist etc against each other is never going to do it, Its like saying red is better than green. We all respond to a performance differently, depending on our mood, how tired we are, whether we know the music, do we like the “ look” of the performer, before you start looking at technical ability or “ musicality”,
Regarding judges, I liked the continuity and all three are successful professional musicians. If you have specialist judges, you lose continuity and/ or you need a much bigger panel. So it is swings and roundabouts, and ultimately it is all subjective anyway.
So you have to suspend reality before you start watching something like this.
I liked the format – six episodes of brilliant varied music was just right, and I would have been happy if 7 or 8 of the musicians were finalists.
The final was great- interesting to compare 2 performances of the same piece, and all 3 had touching moments.
Ryan’s performance moved me to tears – and I have listened to this concerto hundreds of times. Shout out to the orchestra as well – brilliant quiet playing and the woodwind were so sensitive to the soloists.
So well done BBC for continuing to support this competition and I hope it thrives for many years.
It won’t thrive in the new format specially when teachers give up on the competition as many are saying they will.
Red is not better than green so why compare them ?
This competition has an upper age limit of over a decade below 30. Perhaps there should now be an experience limit to match that. In the past, the competition has helped the relatively inexperienced winner (and why can’t there be joint first prize as in other music competitions by the way?) establish a professional career. But this year’s winner, brilliant as he may be, already has a flourishing career as a young professional pianist and did not need this competition to further it. There were several other potential competition prizewinners for whom the first prize could have made a huge difference.
Is the production team that put together this year’s music competition the same team that has reduced Radio 3 music schedules to a shambles? Are they the ‘children’ of The X Factor, Strictly, and Reality TV?
What an insult to all the wonderful, hard-working young musicians who took part. that they were placed in the hands of inanity, mundanity and sheer dumbing down.
What an insult to state music education ( mentioned above). Such similarly hard-working students haven’t a chance in this unlevel playing field.
Unless there is a return to former standards, in every respect, as opposed to ‘show biz’, this competition is doomed and will lose its raison d’être.
Ryan was a fabulous winner of the Final, but a great pity that Hugo (cellist) and Alistair (oboe) were left by the wayside.
I think that the competition this year was adversely affected by the judges. A trumpet player and two people who were not really classical music specialists are not going to appreciate the finer points of string instrument playing for example. Hugo (cellist) played a difficult Paganini arrangement on one string. Did the judges even notice that he was doing this? He is an excellent cellist and deserved to go further in the competition. As others have said, the judges were more influenced by being brought to tears rather than real technical musicianship from the players. They made no notes at all during the final.
Of the final three, I agree that Ryan was by far the best player. I just wonder about some of the other players who did not get this far, but perhaps ought to have.
I hope that the BBC introduce specialist judges next time. It is only fair to the competitors to have their excellent abilities properly assessed and compared by people who really know what they are seeing and hearing.