Pianist Martin James Bartlett is BBC Young Musician 2014

Monday 19 May 2014

RCM student Martin James Bartlett has been crowned BBC Young Musician 2014. He was awarded the trophy in Edinburgh following a superb performance of Rachmaninov’s Rhapsody on a Theme of Paganini.

Martin is the third RCM student in a row to pick up the award, following in the footsteps of pianist Lara Melda and of 2012 winner cellist Laura van der Heijden, who presented Martin with the trophy.

Martin studies piano at the RCM Junior Department with Emily Jeffrey, who also taught Lara Melda, and for the last two years he has also been receiving mentorship and lessons from RCM Head of Keyboard Professor Vanessa Latarche.

This September, Martin will be joining Lara at the senior RCM, continuing his studies with Vanessa on the RCM’s BMus programme, supported by a full scholarship.

Vanessa commented: “I am delighted for Martin and for us all at the RCM. It is so exciting to see someone we have nurtured since the age of eight achieve this coveted title. Last night's performance was just outstanding and I was thrilled to be there.”

Professor Colin Lawson, Director of the RCM, commented: “All of us at the Royal College of Music are extremely proud that three times in a row an RCM Junior Department student has won BBC Young Musician of the Year! This is a great tribute to our teachers here and we are all very proud of pianist Martin James Bartlett, this year's winner. No wonder the RCM Junior Department is a natural first choice for ambitious and talented young musicians.”

You can watch the BBC Young Musician final, presented by RCM alumna Clemency Burton-Hill, on the BBC iPlayer.

Photo: Alan Peebles/BBC