BBC 4 is currently airing the 40th anniversary series of its flagship 'Young Musician of the Year' competition, with three places already decided for the televised final.

This year's event continues on Friday evening (27th April) with brass category final (7.30pm).

Childs role

Viewers will see a very familiar face on their screens introducing the five finalists, as joining Josie d'Arby at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will be Besson euphonium star David Childs, himself a finalist in the competition in 2000.

This year's finalists are Londoner, Will Thomas (17), who plays trumpet and flugel horn and is a member of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and a past principal cornet of its sibling Children's Band.

18 year old bass trombonist Michaias Berlouis, is a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London, whilst 15 year old French horn player Annemarie Federle from Cambridge is the youngest player in the competition.

Also competing are trombonists Isobel Daws and Sam Dye. Isobel won the BBC Radio 2 Young Brass Award in 2017 whilst Sam was a finalist in the 2018 competition held last week at the RNCM in Manchester.

90 minute programme

The programme introduces us to the finalists, takes us behind the scenes and presents extended highlights of the performances.

The judging panel consists of two distinguished figures from the brass-playing community: Simon Cowen, principal trombonist with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, and Simon Cox, trumpeter, arranger and publisher. They join composer, performer and writer Kerry Andrew.

Viewers will see a very familiar face on their screens introducing the five finalists, as joining Josie d'Arby at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire will be Besson euphonium star David Childs, himself a finalist in the competition in 20004BR

40 years of talent

BBC Young Musician has been showcasing the very best British classical music talent for the past 40 years. The very first winner in 1978 was trombonist Michael Hext, whilst Peter Moore won the event in 2012.

This programme is the fourth of five category finals showing weekly on BBC Four with the various category winners taking their place in the Concerto Final to be held at Symphony Hall, Birmingham Sunday May 13th where the performers will be accompanied by the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mark Wigglesworth.