BBC Young Musician - Season 4 / Year 2014

BBC Young Musician 2014 begins with highlights from the strings category final. Presented by the 1998 finalist - trumpeter Alison Balsom - and classical guitarist Milos, four violinists and a harpist battle it out for a place in the semi-final of the UK's ultimate classical music contest.

The competition shines a spotlight on some of our most talented young instrumentalists. Filmed at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff the programme features behind-the-scenes access, profiles of the category finalists and extensive highlights from their performances.

But this isn't your average TV talent show and there is no fast track to success - these gifted musicians will have years of practice behind them and are all Grade 8 standard or above. Almost 500 entered the competition and after two gruelling audition rounds, only 25 remain.

The series kicks off with a dazzling display from five exceptional young string players: 18-year-old violinist Elizaveta Tyun, 17-year-old Roberto Ruisi also playing the violin, 16-year-old violinist Dogyung Anna Im, 17-year-old harpist Juliana Myslov and 19-year-old violinist William Dutton. Expect some remarkable performances, with music ranging from Bach and Brahms to Gershwin and Lutoslawski. Each of the finalists is determined to impress the judges and win the strings title.

The spotlight turns to five more young performers as the search continues for the UK's most talented classical musician. Rhythm takes centre stage as presenters Alison Balsom and Milos introduce extensive highlights and behind-the-scenes access from the percussion final.

From the marimba and vibraphone to gongs, bells and timpani, expect the unexpected. With repertoire ranging from Bach and Rachmaninov to the 21st century, five young percussionists put in performances full of energy and showmanship: 15-year-old Elliott Gaston-Ross, 18-year-old Matthew Farthing, 17-year-old Tom Highnam, 16-year-old Jess Wood and 18-year-old Stefan Beckett.

Each of them will be hoping they can convince the judges to put them through to the semi-final, taking them one step closer to the prestigious title of BBC Young Musician 2014.

Five more young performers take to the stage at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff, all hoping to win the Woodwind Category Final of BBC Young Musician 2014. With a place in the semi-final at stake, flautists Hannah Foster and Daniel Shao, saxophonists Nick Seymour and Jess Gillam and recorder player Sophie Westbrooke hope to impress the jury with the performances of their young lives.

Taking us behind the scenes for all the news, highlights and some incredible music-making are trumpeter Alison Balsom and classical guitarist Milos. Who will take the crown and get a step closer to the Grand Final in Edinburgh's Usher Hall and a shot at the title of BBC Young Musician 2014?

The search for the next BBC Young Musician continues. With the winners of the strings, percussion and woodwind categories already decided, the spotlight now turns to the piano. Featuring music by Ravel, Bach, Chopin and Scarlatti, five talented young performers take to the stage to compete in the keyboard category final.

Presented by Alison Balsom and Milos, the competitors will showcase their talent and hope to prove to a panel of distinguished judges that they are the best young keyboard player in the country. For 18-year-old Hayley Parkes, 15-year-old Julian Trevelyan, 17-year-old Isata Kanneh-Mason, 17-year-old Martin James Bartlett and 18-year-old Ning Hui See, it is time to put in the performance of their lives. Only one will make it through to the semi-final and move a step closer to claiming the coveted title of BBC Young Musician 2014.

After having been treated to some outstanding music-making in the strings, percussion, woodwind and keyboard finals of BBC Young Musician 2014, brass takes centre stage as five talented young performers compete for the last remaining place in the semi-final.

With repertoire from Schumann to Enescu and Kurt Weill, classical guitarist Milos and trumpet player Alison Balsom - herself a BBC Young Musician finalist in 1998 - introduce extensive highlights and behind-the-scenes access from the competition. Hoping to impress the jury are two trumpet players, 13-year-old Will Thomas and 18-year-old Matilda Lloyd, and three trombonists, 18-year-old Lewis Bettles, 14-year-old Isobel Daws and 14-year-old Ellena Newton.

Whoever wins will be one step closer to reaching the grand final at Edinburgh's Usher Hall, where only one will be crowned BBC Young Musician 2014.

BBC Young Musician 2014 reaches its penultimate stage, the semi-final. Over the past weeks there have been some outstanding performance from 25 talented and dedicated young musicians. Now the winners of the strings, percussion, woodwind, keyboard and brass category finals compete against each other for three places in the final at the Usher Hall, Edinburgh.

Making the all-important decisions are Jessica Cottis, assistant conductor of the Sydney Symphony Orchestra; Michael Garvey, director of the BBC National Orchestra and Chorus of Wales; composer Dobrinka Tabakova; and Meurig Bowen, director of the Cheltenham Music Festival. Classical guitarist Milos and trumpet player Alison Balsom (herself a BBC Young Musician Finalist in 1998) take us behind the scenes of the competition at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, presenting extensive highlights from the semi-finalists' recital performances.

Over 450 entered and now only three remain as BBC Young Musician 2014 reaches its thrilling conclusion. The final returns to the Usher Hall in Edinburgh, where the three finalists perform a concerto of their choice with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under award-winning conductor Kirill Karabits.

When the final was last held at Usher Hall back in 2004 the title went to violinist Nicola Benedetti and she returns in an ambassadorial role. Nicola joins Clemency Burton-Hill, trumpet player Alison Balsom (herself a BBC Young Musician finalist in 1998) and classical guitarist Milos for coverage of the final. As well as the complete concerto performances from the three finalists and behind-the-scenes insights, the final also welcomes back BBC Young Musician 2012, Laura van der Heijden to perform Tchaikovsky's Rococo Variations.

For 36 years BBC Young Musician has been showcasing the UK's brightest young classical musicians, helping to launch the careers of some of todays biggest names. This year it turns the spotlight on the world of jazz as five outstanding young players compete in the first ever BBC Young Musician Jazz Final.

With an 'access all areas' backstage pass, Josie D'Arby and award-winning saxophonist and hip hop star Soweto Kinch present extensive highlights of the final. On stage, sax players Sean Payne, Alexander Bone and Tom Smith, bassist Freddie Jensen and trumpet player Jake Labazzi join one of the country's finest jazz bands, the Gwilym Simcock Trio. The result is some remarkable performances which make one forget that all the competitors are between 13 and 18 years of age. At the end of the programme one of them will walk away as the winner of the first ever BBC Young Musician Jazz Award.

Making that difficult decision are a panel of judges with all the right credentials - pianist and broadcaster Julian Joseph; saxophonist and producer Jason Yarde; composer and saxophonist Trish Clowes; and Loose Tubes founder, composer and pianist Django Bates.