The 2015 Woking Young Musician of the Year competition has been won by a first year music student of the College. Performing on both Trombone and Euphonium, Chris Brewster (17, from Woking) beat off some of the most talented young musicians in the area to claim the title, awarded by the renowned oboist and music educator Quentin Poole.

Chris stunned an audience of over 100 at the town centre’s Christ Church with technically accomplished and virtuosic readings of works by Saint-Saëns, Castérède and Wilby, winning the opportunity to perform a solo concerto with a professional orchestra later in the year.

Speaking after the competition, a delighted Chris said, “I am thrilled to win this competition, particularly considering the high level of musicians I was up against. The prize of playing a concerto will be a great opportunity for me and one I am really looking forward to”.

Chris, also a member of the National Youth Orchestra, is one of the College’s Music Scholars and joins a long and distinguished line of Farnborough students who have won major local and national music awards over the years.

Curriculum Manager for Music, Ben Dowsett praised Chris’ achievement. “Chris is a hugely talented young musician and has a great career ahead of him. No doubt this will be the first of many successes that he enjoys. We are privileged to attract the finest musicians from across Hampshire, Surrey and Berkshire here at the College, and students like Chris set a wonderful example, inspiring everyone in the department to greater heights.”