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| Melia Simonot, winner of inaugural BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year |
21-year-old accordion player Melia Simonot was announced as the winner of BBC Radio Scotland’s inaugural Young Classical Musician of the Year competition, held in association with the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. At the final on Saturday 8 June 2024 four finalists competed, accordion player Melia Simonot in music by Mikołaj Majkusiak , harpist Gina Gallacher in Ginastera’s Harp Concerto, pianist Vita Hofinger Mihelič in Paderewski’s Piano Concerto, and oboist Chris Vettraino in Martinu’s Oboe Concerto, performing with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Martyn Brabbins at Glasgow’s City Halls.
Melia Simonot is in her final year of Bachelor studies at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in the class of the distinguished Serbian teacher, Djordje Gajic. In addition to the title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician 2024 and a trophy (designed by Simon Baker), Simonot will receive a recording session with BBC Scotland and a special feature on the station’s Classical Now programme.
The Young Classical Musician of the Year competition aims to encourage and highlight the wealth of talent in Scotland’s vibrant classical scene. It joins the ranks of Radio Scotland’s other music competitions, including the Young Traditional Musician of the Year, the Young Jazz Musician of the Year, and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year.
The current winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Traditional Musician of the Year, announced in February, is singer, mandolin, and guitar player Calum McIlroy from Aberdeenshire. Pianist Michael Shankland from Edinburgh holds the title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Jazz Musician of the Year, while Bottle Rockets from Glasgow were named BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2024 in March.
See the BBC website for more information about finalists, and you can hear all the finalists on BBC Sounds.
