[ Soprano, Ruth Williams was the winner of the Bath Young Musician of the Year contest. She is eighteen and recently finished her A-levels at Hayesfield School. She plans to study music at University.]
You know how it is. You’ve just had your evening meal, and it’s already dark outside. The last thing you feel like doing is raising yourself from the couch and going out to a musical event to which you have been invited.
However, l have to say how pleased l am that my husband and l made the effort and joined others to watch and enjoy the Bath Young Musician of the Year contest held at the Guildhall.
The event is organised by the Mid-Somerset Festival, in association with the Roper Family Charitable Trust, and the five musicians competing for a silver trophy were all high achievers from senior instrumental classes in the 2025 Festival held earlier this year.
Contestants have to be under 21 and live or study in Bath or within a 15-mile radius of the city.
The event has usually been held in the Pump Room – but that spa water trickle was always a bit of a distraction. Staff couldn’t risk turning off the tap in case the water stopped flowing when the device was turned on again.
This time around, a packed audience of family, friends, music teachers and special guests were seated in the 18th-century Banqueting Hall at the Guildhall and about to be treated to an amazing display of young musical talent.
Well done to everyone who took part. You are a credit to your family, music teachers and schools. I am sure there are some amazing careers in store for you.
Meanwhile, the Mid-Somerset Festival is always on the lookout for volunteers to help it run its annual programmes. They deal with every sort of talent, from speech, drama and creative writing to music and dance.
If you would like to get involved, contact the Chair, Evelyn Taylor via Chair@midsimersetfestival.org or ring 07824 781348
