[Date Published: September 10, 2024] — The ultimate UK talent contest for young classical music performers, BBC Young Musician returns to BBC Two, BBC Four, BBC Radio 3, BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds in September and October 2024, for its 24th edition.

The long-running biennial competition has been celebrating up-and-coming musical talents from across the UK for five decades, launching the careers of international stars such as Nicola Benedetti, Laura van Der Heijden, Mark Simpson, Sheku Kanneh-Mason and Martin James Bartlett. BBC Young Musician 2022 was won by 19-year-old Milton-born percussionist Jordan Ashman, who has gone on to perform all over the UK, in recital and as a soloist with ensembles such as the City of Birmingham Symphony Youth Orchestra, the Band of Royal Marines, and the City Of Cambridge Symphony Orchestra.

This year, five programmes – introduced by trailblazing saxophonist and broadcaster Jess Gillam – will be on BBC Four and BBC iPlayer every Sunday from 15 September, taking audiences through the various stages of the competition, culminating in highlights from the grand final on BBC Two and BBC iPlayer on Sunday 20 October, and the event in full on BBC Four on the same date. BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds will feature highlights of the quarter and semi-final on Classical Live from Monday 30 September, with the grand final broadcast in full on Sunday 20 October.

Launched in November 2023 with a brand new format, this year’s edition of BBC Young Musician has seen hundreds of submissions from promising young classical performers from every corner of the UK. 50 musicians from eight geographical areas across the country made it through to the live auditions in April at BBC Central Square in Cardiff. Out of these, only 12 proceeded to the quarter finals, and six to the semi-final, with these stages of the contest recorded in July at The Great Hall, Swansea University (Bay Campus). On Tuesday 24 September at Bristol Beacon, three finalists will compete for the title, as they each perform a concerto accompanied by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, conducted by Ben Gernon.

Judging this year’s competition are: trumpeter Alison Balsom, pianist and composer Alexis Ffrench, and multi-instrumentalist and broadcaster Hannah Catherine Jones .

Suzy Klein, Head of BBC Arts and Classical Music TV, says: “Since 1978, BBC Young Musician has been showcasing the very best classical performers from across the UK and I’m delighted that we can today announce broadcast details for the 2024 competition, including the return of the final to BBC Two. It is a privilege to be able to offer a springboard for these brilliant young artists at the start of their careers, shining a light on their extraordinary talent as they take those first crucial steps on to the global classical music stage. These are the stars of tomorrow, who BBC audiences will get the chance to be dazzled by as they embark on what are certain to be glittering careers ahead.”

BBC Young Jazz Musician returns in Autumn 2024, turning the focus on some of the most talented up-and-coming musicians and singers on the British jazz scene. During the final, taking place at London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall on Saturday 23 November as part of the EFG London Jazz Festival and broadcast on BBC TV later in the Autumn, four finalists will compete for the title, following in the footsteps of BBC Young Jazz Musician 2022 winner double bassist Ewan Hastie.

BBC Young Musician 2024 and BBC Young Jazz Musician 2024 are managed and produced by BBC Studios Music and Entertainment Wales and the Commissioning Editor is Stephen James-Yeoman.

How to watch BBC Young Musician 2024 on BBC TV and BBC iPlayer

BBC Four & iPlayer

• Sun 15 September: highlights from the live auditions
• Sun 22 September: highlights from the live auditions
• Sun 29 September: quarter finals
• Sun 6 October: quarter finals
• Sun 13 October: semi-final
• Sun 20 October: grand final

BBC Two & iPlayer

• Sun 20 October: highlights from the grand final

How to listen to BBC Young Musician 2024 on BBC Radio 3 and BBC Sounds

Classical Live (Highlights from the competition’s quarter final and semi-final)
• Mon 30 September to Friday 4 October, 1pm – 4pm
• Wednesday 2 October, 1pm – 3pm

BBC Young Musician 2024 Grand Final
• Sunday 20 October