´óÏó´«Ã½

Peter Moore was last night named ´óÏó´«Ã½ Young Musician of the Year 2008 at a nail-biting and visually stunning final at Wales Millennium Centre, Cardiff - the youngest ever winner of the competition.

Organised by ´óÏó´«Ã½ Wales, this was the first all-male final and trombonist Peter, aged just 12, took the coveted title against stiff competition from talented young musicians from around the UK.

Belfast-born Peter now lives in Stalybridge and is a pupil at Chetham's School of Music, Manchester. All his family members are brass players and his parents were both French horn players in the Ulster Orchestra. His brother David is studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester and also entered the competition.

The other sensational finalists Sheffield-born Jadran Duncumb, 18, guitar, David Smith, 18, flute, from Edinburgh, Ipswich student Erdem MisirlioÄŸlu , 18, piano and Jim Molyneux, 17, percussion, from Littleborough will all have the opportunity to perform at the Wigmore Hall in London as part of the Tabor Foundation's ongoing sponsorship of the competition including this year's final.

Pete said, "I have really enjoyed the whole competition and feel really privileged to take part. It has been great to work with the ´óÏó´«Ã½ National Orchestra of Wales. When my mum said I should enter I thought she was off her rocker but she talked me into it."

After the competition mum Jane and dad Grenville took their award winning son back to Stalybridge for a good night's sleep in his own bed after what had been an exciting yet tiring week for the 12 year old.

The two day celebration had an atmosphere that combined the tension of a competition with the fun of a party. Before and after their performances the finalists mixed with friends, family and music teachers who had traveled from around the UK and further afield to share their views, pass on congratulations and generally mingle in the foyer of the iconic Wales Millennium Centre.

A glamorous line-up of celebrities had been assembled for the 30th anniversary gala final weekend including Strictly Come Dancing and Blue Peter's Gethin Jones, former Royal Harpist Catrin Jenkins, singer and broadcaster Aled Jones and past winners Nicola Benedetti and Nicola Loud.

Twenty one year old violinist Nicola Benedetti came to the prestigious weekend musical extravaganza fresh from being named young British classical performer at the Classical Brit Awards on Thursday night.

Nicola, the competition's 2004 winner, was joined by the Queen of the Harp, former royal harpist Catrin Finch, 27, on the panel of jurors. They were two of the youngest judges in the competition's 30 year history.

On Saturday's electrifying concerto concert Gethin Jones and Nicola Loud introduced the five very different finalists whose music ranged from popular classical favourites such as Rodrigo's Concierto de Aranjuez played by Jadran Dumcumb, Rachmaninov's Rhapsody on a theme of Paganini played by Erdem MisirlioÄŸlu to Tomasi's Trombone Concerto played by Peter Moore, Ibert's Flute Concerto played by David Smith and Torke's wild Rapture Concerto for Percussion and Orchestra played by Jim Molyneux. It was possibly the first time a large-size baked bean can had been played in a classical concert at WMC.

For Sunday afternoon's concert the live music performances were interspersed with documentary footage of Jim, Peter, David, Jadran and Erdem's journey to the Grand Final, shown on a large screen at the edge of the stage that was also cleverly used to focus in on the soloists during both concerts.

Aled Jones joined in the hosting of Sunday's concert which culminated in the tense wait for the judges to make their decision.

Peter's music teacher mum Jane said, "We are very proud of him and over the moon. He works really hard and what is most important enjoys what he does."

A special award was also made to Michael Foyle, aged 16 from Troon in Ayshire. The £2,000 Tabor Award for Promising Talent 2008 is given to one competitor to help with the costs of special tuition to help him or her achieve their full potential.
A £1,500 Walter Todds Bursary, created in memory of the competition's late founder, was shared between 18 year old harpist Cecilia Sultana de Maria from Bath, pianist Sam Law, aged 17 from Ballymena and percussionist David Elliot, aged 18 from Bournemouth.