Jordan Ashman, from Milton in Cambridgeshire has won the Percussion Final of BBC Young Musician 2022 competition.

The 18-year-old (second from right of image), who has been the principal percussionist of the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and has played with Youth Brass 2000 and GUS Band, attends the Royal College of Music Junior Department.

He will now progress through to the Grand Final where he will join viola player Jaren Ziegler, flautist Sofia Patterson-Gutierrez, and trumpeter Sasha Canter. The keyboard finalist will be revealed on Thursday evening (6th October).

Remarkable virtuosity

The Percussion Final was recorded in early July at Saffron Hall in Essex and was marked by remarkable virtuosity and musicianship from all performers, including fellow Youth Brass 2000 and National Youth Band colleague George Garnett (18), Joshua Gearing (17), Sophie Warner (18) and Eric Zhang (15).

The judges included Paul Philbert, Principal Timpanist of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and Chineke! Orchestra, and international soloist Beibei Wang. They joined organist and broadcaster Anna Lapwood, chairperson of all the BBC Young Musician 2022 Category Final judging panels.

Before hearing the performances, Paul said that he liked, "to see a performer who can take the listener, us on the jury and the entire audience on a journey: Tell a story, own the stage — and a little bit of flair never went amiss."

Beibei Wang said that, "she really loved performers or musicians that are high energy and bring out their own character. And I want to see someone step out of their comfort zone and be 'wow!' — this is the one we want."

Lifted off the stage

Anna Lapwood added that the percussion category was her "favourite" as they were always in for "an incredible show". She was looking for someone who was "going to really lift the performance off the stage."

They certainly got that with Jordan, who in his interview as the last of the superb finalists proudly declared his connection to the National Youth Brass Band of Great Britain and the opportunities it had offered him.

He opened with a work specially written for him by composer Cameron Young, entitled, 'Automata', following it with 'As the Snow Falls' by Robert Oetomo. He closed with 'Strawberry Therapy' by Krystian Skubala.

Amazing

After he had played Jordan said that he was, "...really happy with how that went. What I got back from the audience was amazing. I was really trying to connect with the audience and I really feel like I did. It was amazing."

In looking back at the performances, Jury Chairperson Anna Lapwood said that during Jordan's performance she, "...stopped breathing. I stopped writing. I confess there were a couple of tears as well. It was an extremely well chosen programme.

To be brave enough to play a piece so simple in a competition like this ('As the Snow Falls') is quite an extraordinary thing."

Crying

In announcing Jordan as the winner, Beibei Wang said that it was, "...such a privilege to be here to witness all this bright young talent."

She added: "I loved every single piece he played. And in the second piece we were all crying — the three of us were all crying. You could feel the audience hold their breath."

George Garnett was also on superb form on the night, with the presenters saying that his "overall attitude and technique was brilliant" on a set that opened with 'Side by Side' by Michio Kitazume and 'The Spirit of Life' by Csaba Zoltan Marjan, played on the marimba.

And in the second piece we were all crying — the three of us were all crying. You could feel the audience hold their breathJury member, Beibei Wang

Grand Final

The BBC Young Musician Grand Final was recorded at Manchester's Bridgewater Hall on Thursday 29th September and is scheduled for broadcast on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3 on Sunday 9th October.

The culmination of the contest will see the category winners perform a concerto with the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Mark Wigglesworth.

The jury will be chaired by Anna Lapwood and will include BBC Radio 3's Editor for Live Music Emma Bloxham, Southbank Centre's Head of Classical Music Toks Dada, conductor Ben Gernon, and sitar player, composer and producer Anoushka Shankar.

Enjoy

All Category Finals will be available to watch in full on the BBC Young Musician website.

BBC Young Musician website: www.bbc.co.uk/youngmusician