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16 March 2017
At just 13 years old, Hannah, who is an Academic and Music Scholar at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, was the youngest finalist in the competition, which took place on Tuesday evening at Pittville Pump Room.
Performing last, Hannah’s winning violin performance followed exceptional pieces by the other four finalists, aged between 16 and 20 years old, on the cello, violin, flute and alto saxophone. Hannah, who is taught by Matthew Denton and Tasmin Little, successfully won both the awards available at the competition; one based on the judges’ decision and the other decided by the audience vote.
She began studying violin when she was four years old and, by the age of nine, had passed all eight ABRSM violin exams, five piano exams and five singing exams, all with distinction.
As part of her prize, Hannah was presented with the Hewitt-Jones Trophy, a cheque for £500 and will have the pleasure of performing with the Gloucestershire Symphony Orchestra, as well as with the Gloucestershire Youth Orchestra, at Cheltenham Music Festival and at the Carducci Festival.
Hannah said “I am delighted to have received the Gloucestershire Young Musician of the Year 2017 award. The whole evening was really enjoyable and the atmosphere was amazing.”
Mrs Charlotte Oosthuizen, Head of Lower College at Cheltenham Ladies’ College, said “Along with our Director of Music, I was delighted to go to the final to support Hannah. When she played, the audience sat enthralled by the exquisite sound that filled the Pittville Pump Room and the applause at the end said it all. She did herself, her family and Cheltenham Ladies’ College proud!”
This year’s competition, sponsored by Dee & Griffin Solicitors, was judged by Meurig Bowen, Director of the Cheltenham Music Festival, Simon Haram, Professor of Saxophone at the Royal Academy of Music and Lucy Gould, who holds the position of Principal 2nd Violin of the Chamber Orchestra of Europe and teaches at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama.
