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From Friday 16 April, audiences will be able to enjoy some of the brightest young musical talents, as coverage of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010 begins on the ´óÏó´«Ã½.

Picking up where the 25 musicians who have made it through the regional and category auditions battle it out in the category finals and semi-final, the ´óÏó´«Ã½ will bring all the excitement, thrills and stories from the stage, backstage and beyond.

With increased airtime, including an extra programme on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Two, in-depth 90-minute programmes on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Four, as well as extensive programming on ´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3, which kicked off earlier this week, the comprehensive coverage will build up to the final, where one exceptional young musician will be crowned ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010 and receive a £2,000 cash prize.

The final takes place in the Donald Gordon Theatre, Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff, on Sunday 16 May.

The three finalists will perform a concerto of their own choice with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales under the baton of Vasily Petrenko, chief conductor of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and principal conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.

Coverage of the competition includes:

´óÏó´«Ã½ Four
´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010, Friday 16, 23 and 30 and 7 and 14 May, 7.30pm

Weekly 90-minute programmes, presented by Clemency Burton-Hill, including introductions to the 25 category finalists, insight into their preparations, behind-the-scenes footage at the category finals and extensive highlights as they bid to become a category winner and gain a place in the semi-final.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Two
´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010 semi-final, Saturday 15 May, 6pm (tbc)

Clemency Burton-Hill presents a highlights programme from the semi-final as the five category winners compete for just three places in the final.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010 final, Sunday 16 May, 6pm (tbc)

Howard Goodall and Clemency Burton-Hill bring the finalists' concerto performances in full as they compete for the title of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010.

´óÏó´«Ã½ Radio 3
Afternoon On 3, Monday 10 to Thursday 13 May, Radio 3, 2pm, featuring one category final winner each day.

Performance On 3, Friday 14 May, Radio 3, 7pm, featuring the fifth category final winner.

Final of ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician 2010, Sunday 16, time tbc.

Category Finalists:

Brass Category
Sam Moffitt, trumpet (17, from Southsea, Portsmouth)
Finlay Bain, French horn (18, from Ealing, London)
Anna Douglass, French horn (18, from Fulbourn, Cambridge)
Alex Hamilton, French horn (17, from Manchester)
Tom Berry, trombone (18, from Bolton)

String Category
Katy Smith, violin (17, from Peterborough)
Callum Smart, violin (13, from Tunbridge Wells)
John Hewitt-Jones, viola (17, from West Dulwich)
Glain Dafydd, harp (17, from Bangor, North Wales)
Anne Denholm, harp (18, from Carmarthen)

Keyboard Category
Frederic Bager, piano (18, from Switzerland)
Sophie Dee, piano (16, from Faversham, Kent)
Yuanfan Yang, piano (13 – the youngest finalist – from Manchester)
Lara Ömeroğlu, piano (16, from Watford, Hertfordshire)
Seán Rooney, piano (16, from Newry, County Down)

Woodwind Category
Emma Halnan, flute (17, from Letchworth, Hertfordshire)
Chloé Greenwood, oboe (17, from Rochdale, Lancashire)
Lavinia Redman, oboe (15, from Clapton in Gordano, North Somerset)
Joe Norris, clarinet (17, from Perth)
Ben Westlake, clarinet (17, from Milton Keynes)

Percussion Category
Hui Wai Nok (18 – the eldest finalist – from Hong Kong)
Lucy Landymore (17, from Cambridge).
James Larter (15, from Northampton).
Oliver Pooley (17, from Manchester)
Delia Stevens (18, from Normanton-on-Soar, Leicestershire).

Radio 3 Publicity