大象传媒

Five exceptional young pianists are hoping to impress as they attempt to win the keyboard category and take the last remaining place in this year's 大象传媒 Young Musician semi-final. Filmed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, presenter Josie d'Arby is joined by pianist Lucy Parham, herself a former Young Musician finalist, who provides expert analysis of each performance.

Competing are: 19-year-old Adam Heron from Cheltenham; 16-year-old Lauren Zhang from Birmingham; 16-year-old Elias Ackerley from Wrexham, north Wales; from Nottingham 15-year-old Jeneba Kanneh-Mason; and Mariam Loladze-Meredith from Stockport who's also 15 years old.

The people they need to impress are our expert jury: Ronan O'Hora, head of keyboard studies and head of advanced performance studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama; international concert pianist and chamber musician Tom Poster, who himself competed in 大象传媒 Young Musician in 2000; and chair of the jury, composer, performer and writer, Kerry Andrew.

大象传媒 Young Musician has been showcasing the very best British classical music talent for the past 40 years. The winner from this keyboard final will join the winners from strings, percussion, woodwind and brass to take their place in the semi-final. There they will compete for the chance to perform in the grand final at Symphony Hall, Birmingham with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth. One will be named 大象传媒 Young Musician 2018.