The winner of the 2025 Young Musician of Dyfed is pianist Jonah Barker. He will be performing as part of St David’s Cathedral Music Festival on Tuesday 27 May, as well as taking part in MusicFest Aberystwyth. The runners up were Aldo Breedyk Jencyn Corp, Ianto Evans, and Catrin Edwards
YOUNG MUSICIAN MASTERCLASSES
The 2025-26 masterclasses will take place on Saturday 1 and Sunday 2 November at Rhosygilwen near Cilgerran. All instruments can be catered for across the two days, but brass players should apply for a Saturday masterclass, and string players for the Sunday.
The atmosphere in these masterclasses is relaxed and informal. The leaders will not be offering technical advice (that’s best left to your instrumental teacher) but rather encouraging you to explore your interpretation of the music and develop your performance skills.This year’s masterclasses will be led by Kevin Price with Chris Williams, and Nancy Johnson with Andrew Wilson Dickson. The aim is to help increase your confidence when playing – be it at a concert, an audition or in an exam. It’s somewhere for you benefit from invaluable advice from professional musicians.
Just bring along a single piece of music you’re currently working on, no longer than five minutes in length. This may be a stand-alone piece or a movement/part of a movement from a longer work. It would be a great help if you could bring a spare copy of the music to the masterclass.
We will provide accompanists on the day of the masterclass or, if you prefer, you may bring your own.
Be aware that places are limited and available on a first come first served basis.
To take part, simply download and fill in the form found at the bottom of this page and email it to Helen McNabb at ymmdyfed@gmail.com or post it to the address provided. If you have any queries, please contact Helen.
The deadline for applications is Wednesday 8 October 2025 .
To take part in our masterclasses you should:
- Be under 19yrs of age on 1st September 2025
- Be in full time education or have a permanent residential address in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion or Pembrokeshire
- Be of Grade 5 equivalent standard or above
These masterclasses are free to you, but the high cost of providing them when an increasing number of appointments are missed is not sustainable. While we do not want to do so, we have decided that we will now require a £10 payment to secure your booking. This amount will be fully refunded to you after you’ve attended the masterclass or if we receive an apology and explanation for the absence in advance.
Please make a BACS payment to the Cooperative Bank, Young Music Makers of Dyfed
Sort Code 08 92 99, Account number 65380752
YOUNG MUSICIAN OF DYFED COMPETITION
We welcome applications from masterclasses participants and others.
There will be a preliminary round on January 24 2026 when a panel will select the 5 who are to prepare a 15-minute recital for a public performance/competition to select the Young Musician of Dyfed. The winner, in addition to the prizes awarded, will be given opportunities to perform at the St. Davids Cathedral Festival and Aberystwyth Musicfest
The closing date for applications is Friday 5 December 2025
The competition will take place at Neuadd y Dderwen, Rhosygilwen, Cilgerran on Saturday 18 April 2026.