Junior RNCM percussionist Elliott Gaston-Ross has reached the semi-final of the 2014 BBC Young Musician of the Year competition.
The 15-year-old, who studies with Ian Forgrieve, performed Eugene Novotney’s A Minute of News, the first movement of Dave Maric’s Trilogy, Takatsugu Muramatsu’s Land and Keiko Abe’s Prism during the Percussion Category Finals, broadcast on BBC 4 on Friday 25 April.
Talking after the competition, which took place at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama and also featured fellow JRNCM percussionist Jess Wood, Elliott said: ‘I thought the whole BBC Young Musician experience was really amazing. I feel extremely privileged to have had the chance to play in such a beautiful hall with such a welcoming audience, and it will certainly be an experience that will stay with me for the rest of my life.’
Simone Rebello, Director of Percussion at the RNCM who was on the adjudicating panel alongside Owen Gunnell and Meurig Bowen, said of Elliott’s performance: ‘He is a really fantastic player, so honest, so true and totally, 100%, believing in what he’s doing.’
The BBC Young Musician of the Year continues on Friday 2 May with the Woodwind Category Final featuring JRNCM saxophonist Jess Gillam. It will be broadcast on BBC 4 at 7.30pm.
