THE second Wyre Forest Young Musician of the Year Competition organised by Bewdley Youth Festival was held last weekend.

Thirty young musicians, between the ages of 13 and 18, competed for prizes in three categories – solo singer, solo instrumentalist and group – during the event at St George’s Hall on Saturday (January 23).

The judging panel was led by local choir leader Alastair Elliot, who was joined by Angie Allard, Justin Metti and Danny Sanderson.

Sixteen-year-old Ellisha Green, from Kidderminster, won the solo singer category, while the solo instrumentalist award was won by 15-year-old Daniel Szemeti from Bewdley School and Sixth Form Centre.

The best group award went to Hannah Law, 14, and Chloe Mogg, 18, who attend Stourport High School and Kidderminster College respectively.

Ellisha also won the best composition award for her song ‘Thunder’, as well as being named Wyre Forest Young Musician of the Year.

The prizes were presented to the winners by Richard Perrin, from the Helen Mackaness Trust.

Peter Barnett, director of Bewdley Youth Festival, paid tribute to the young musicians who took part in the event.

He also thanked Bewdley Festival, Bewdley Town Council, Kidderminster and District Lions Club, the Rotary Club of Bewdley and the Mug House Inn, in Bewdley, for their support.

He added: “The standard of performance was excellent throughout the day and the judge’s task was a hard one in all of the three categories.

“During the judges deliberations the audience was treated to a rousing set from Sunjay, the young local blues musician who was one of the first musicians featured by Bewdley Youth Festival when it started four years ago and who is now a full-time musician performing across the UK.

“The next project being undertaken by the Youth Festival is to record original compositions by youth acts who have appeared at the regular Music in the Hall series of concerts held in St George’s Hall.

“These will be included on a compilation CD of tracks donated by acts that have performed at these concerts, including Dreaming Spires, Hans Chew and Twelfth Day.”