Guest Blog by Claire Kelly
Welcome to Southport Young Musicians Competition 2025!
What was our Inspiration for producing this Competition?
With the closure of the Southport Music Festival, we felt it was time to create something new – a modern, inclusive music competition for young people in our area.
The Southport Young Musicians Competition is here to offer exactly that: a platform to perform, receive feedback, gain confidence, and be inspired.
This is also the first year of ‘The Southport Arts Festival’ (2-10th August 2025) run by Tony Wynne, so we are holding the Southport Young Musicians Awards Evening during the same week – to coincide with the festival in August.
We believe in celebrating the incredible young talent across Southport and beyond. Whether you’re here to compete, perform, or just take part for the experience, this is a welcoming and accessible opportunity for local children and teens to shine.
What’s It All About?
This is a friendly and inclusive competition designed for musicians and singers up to the age of 21. Open to all local children and teenagers, the competition will take place every two years and is aimed at giving young performers a chance to:
• Showcase their talent in a public performance.
• Receive constructive and encouraging feedback from qualified judges in a private audition- style setting
• Earn certificates and potentially trophies
• Gain valuable performance experience
Think of it as similar to a musical version of ‘Britain’s Got Talent’ – but instead of a buzzer, you’ll get a score, a certificate, and thoughtful feedback! The highest scorers in each category of each age group have the chance to go through to ‘The Young Musicians Awards’ where trophies will be awarded and it will also be a showcase of our brightest talented youngsters in Southport!
This event is to be held at The Grand on Lord Street in Southport, attended by the Mayor of Sefton, Southport’s MP and hosted by In demand Radio presenter Claire Simmo.
This event will coincide and be part of The Southport Arts Festival, a new initiative for Southport.
Tickets will be available for this event shortly!
Key Details:
Audition Dates (All at The Temperance Institute, Southport 4–6 PM):
• Sunday 1st June
• Sunday 15th June
• Sunday 29th June
• Sunday 13th July
• Sunday 27th July
Simply tick your available dates when filling out the Google entry form (link below). You’ll be notified of your audition date and time via email.
Entry Period:
Friday 25th April – 31st May 2025
If you’re unable to attend any of the set dates, please email us and we’ll do our best to arrange an alternative.
southportyoungmusicians@gmail.com
Categories:
All categories are open to the following age groups:
Age Categories:
7 and under, 8 & 9
10 & 11, 12-14, 15 -17, 18-20
All entrants must be under 21
Piano:
• Classical
• Pop & Alternative
• Composition
• Improvisation
Singing:
• Musical Theatre (with drama excerpt)
• Pop
• Opera
• Jazz & Alternative Styles
Guitar:
• Classical
• Electric
• Bass
Instrumentalists:
• Brass
• String
• Woodwind
Young Bands:
Any style — as long as all members are under 21!
Alternative Styles:
• Beatboxing
• Rapping
• MCing
Important Note for Singers and instrumentalists:
Please bring your own backing track or accompanist. If you require an accompanist and don’t have one, email us and we’ll try to help!
Expect a fantastic competition complete with certificates, marking and feedback, press coverage, culminating in an awards evening with amazing performances, trophies and a fantastic prize for the overall winner.
Who Can Enter?
• Local music teachers are encouraged to enter their students.
• Parents can enter their children.
• Older teens (17–20) are welcome to enter independently.
• This is for everyone in the local music community- whether you have a trained background or not. We are interested in all styles of music, and you don’t have to be a student of a teacher.
We have many local schools involved as well as multiple Music Academies and music teachers, including several musical theatre schools. This is shaping up to be a true community celebration of young musical talent.
If you’re a private music teacher, or run an independent music school, and are not yet involved and would like to be – it’s not too late ! Please do email us.
Meet the Judges:
We are extremely proud and honoured to have a diverse and highly qualified panel of judges from Southport’s music and theatre community:
Julie Ann Carr – Organist, Pianist, Singer, teacher & musical theatre coach.
Dan Mansfield– Director of Music at Holy Trinity, Southport, organist, choir master & piano tutor.
Sue Dexter– Ex Southport Music Festival Chair, HighSchool Performing Arts Teacher, Current Chair of ‘Sing For Sefton’ & Southport Young Arts Secretary.
Natasha Brookes– Owner of Voice Plus Academy, singer/ songwriter, teacher & accompanist.
Gabrielle Zanobini– Founder & owner of Zanobini Academy of Performing Arts, singer, vocal coach & director.
Claire Williams– ‘Singing For Lung Health’ Leader,Piano & singing teacher & accompanist.
Joe Bloom– Composer, musical director, piano teacher, accompanist . Finalist in TV’s BBC Young Composers.
Claire Kelly– Founder of Southport Piano Academy, piano teacher, performance coach & local theatre critic, events host & news writer.
Jon Taylor– Resident pianist at ‘The Grand’, Southport,DJ, singer, teacher, accompanist and ‘The King of improv!’
Joanna McNally– Head of The Music Department at Meol’s Cop High School, singing, flute and musical theatre teacher.
Deborah Bloom– Founder of Ignite Drama, head of drama at Greenbank High School, director, actor & singer.
Dave Aston– Creator of Southport Open Mic Nights, guitarist and teacher.
Karen Finch Edge– Owner of ACT Children’s Theatre Company, dancer and director, including for SONG shows.
Sarah Louise Wearden– Principal of Pauline Quirke Academy, piano,singing & drama teacher in secondary school.
Jacqui Lewis– Founder of So Talented, musical director, singer & radio host.
Matthew Cook– Former Sefton Music Service Drums teacher, award winning beat boxer and performer.
Caroline Darbyshire – Founder of Carousel Music & Movement, and the Atkinson/ Southport wellbeing choir, songwriter, piano/singing teacher & founder of CD Music.)
Karen Pate– Radio Presenter, singing competition judge, events host, presenter, A level teacher and creative media expert.
How to Enter:
1. Complete the Google Entry Form (linked below).
2. Select the category (or categories – you can enter more than one!) that you would like to enter.
3. Choose your available audition dates.
4. Email your completed form to:
southportyoungmusicians@gmail.com
* Please bring a spare copy of any sheet music you are playing or singing for the judging panel on the day of your audition.
* If you require an accompanist and don’t have one who can accompany you to the audition , please email us directly , and we will see if we have one available for the day of your audition.
* Please bring your backing track music on a device (if you are singing or playing along) that can be linked via Bluetooth to a speaker( which we will provide in the audition room.)
Let’s Shine a Spotlight on Southport’s Young Talent!
Let’s encourage the next generation of Southport musicians to let their light shine. Whether you’re a singer, pianist, instrumentalist, rapper, or composer – we want to hear from you.
Again – if you have any questions , please email us at southportyoungmusicians@gmail.com.
We can’t wait to hear you perform!
Entry Form:
Link to website info :
https://www.southportpianoacademy.com/media
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