The BBC is starting a week of programmes celebratiing 30 years of its flagship Classical Music competition, the Young Musician of the Year.

30 years celebrated

With its first final in 1978, the competition has gone on to discover some of the World's finest musicians and from Thursday 1st May, the BBC will be taking a look back at the history of the event as well as featuring the five category finals (Brass, Keyboard, Percussion, Strings and Woodwind) and the Grand Final on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th May.

Extensive coverage

Following a programme on BBC Radio 4 this Thursday where the 2006 winner, Mark Simpson talks to competitors involved in the events since its inception and how their lives have evolved since then, BBC 2 will broadcast a one hour programme next Sunday 4th May chartering the last 30 years.

Brass Final

BBC Four will broadcast the five category finals from next Monday at 8pm with each of the finalists being featured performing their chosen repertoire.

The Brass Final that took place in February will be broadcast on BBC4 at 8pm on Wednesday 7th May4BR

The Brass Final will be shown on Wednesday 7th May and will feature Alexander Edmundson, Henry Lindsay, Peter Moore and Matthew White. 4BR was present at the final and it is a programme certainly worth watching and although we've been asked not to reveal the winner, we did give a hint in our post-final retrospective who has won.

Grand Final

Traditionally, the five finalists perform a concerto in front of an esteemed panel of judges and they then go on to choose the winner. This year, there is a twist. Each of the five finalists will perform a concerto with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales conducted by Thierry Fischer on Saturday 10th May before returning on the Sunday to play once again.

This time, the finalists will perform a movement of their concerto as designated by the judges before playing a piece of their own choice and then the adjudication panel will decide on the winner.

Final streamed on the web

The final itself from the Wales Millennium Centre on Saturday 10th May will be streamed live on the web at www.bbc.co.uk/youngmusician from 7pm BST.

After the announcement of the winner, BBC 2 will broadcast a 2 hour programme on Sunday 11th May with extensive highlights from both Saturday and Sunday.

Radio 3 coverage

In addition to the category finals and Grand Final on television, BBC Radio 3 are this year featuring each Category Winner in their programme, 'Afternoon on 3'. Starting on Monday 5th and running through toFriday 9th May, listeners will be able to hear the concerto performances recorded on Saturday 11th May in Performance on 3, on Monday 12th May, from 7.00pm.

Ticket details

Saturday 10 May 2008 at 7.00pm
Sunday 11 May 2008 at 1.30pm
Wales Millennium Centre Box Office: 08700 40 2000

Tickets for each concert: £12, £10, £8, £5 concessions available.
20% Discount if booking for both Saturday and Sunday, 10 and 11 May (excludes £5 tickets)

Further information

All the information you require on the BBC Young Musician of the Year 2008 including where you can watch the final live along with interviews with the category finalists, can be found at www.bbc.co.uk/youngmusician