BBC Young Musician

As BBC Young Musician begins its 40th anniversary series, Josie d'Arby is joined by Alison Balsom, herself a finalist in 1998, to present highlights from the first of this year's category finals. Since it was first held in 1978, the contest has showcased the UK's brightest and best musical talent. This year five exceptional musicians have been selected for the strings final. They are: 19-year-old violinist Elodie Chousmer-Howelles; 17-year-old double bassist Will Duerden; violinist Stephanie Childress who is 18; 17-year-old guitarist Torrin Williams; and cellist Maxim Calver who is 18 years old. The music they perform includes Bach, Brahms and Stravinsky.

Percussionist Joby Burgess joins Josie d'Arby as the competition continues with the multi-instrumentalists in the percussion category final of BBC Young Musician 2018. Since it was first held in 1978, BBC Young Musician has showcased the UK's brightest and best musical talent. The young musicians in the percussion category hoping to earn a place in the overall semi-final are: 18-year-old Tom Hall; Toril Azzalini-Machecler from Horsham who is 16; from Devon, 17-year-old Meadow Brooks; 15-year-old Alexander Pullen; and 17-year-old Matthew Brett from Crewe, a category finalist from two years ago.

With two places in the semi-final already decided, it's the turn of the woodwind players to take centre stage. Josie d'Arby is joined by leading bassoonist Amy Harman at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire to bring highlights from the BBC Young Musician 2018 woodwind final. Five outstanding musicians have been selected, playing an array of instruments. They are: 18-year-old saxophonist Robert Burton from Cambridgeshire, from London, 17-year-old flautist Marie Sato, Francis Bushell, an 18-year-old bassoonist from Essex, the youngest competitor in these category finals, 14-year-old Eliza Haskins, a recorder player from Devon, and completing the line-up is 16-year-old clarinettist Tom Myles from County Down, Northern Ireland. They perform music from the Baroque period to the 21st century by composers such as Corelli, Faure and Gershwin.

With three places already decided in this year's semi-final, BBC Young Musician 2018 continues with coverage of the brass category final. Josie d'Arby is on hand at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and is joined by euphonium soloist David Childs, himself a finalist in the competition back in 2000. This year's brass finalists are: 18-year-old trombonist Isobel Daws, who studies in Manchester; Will Thomas, who is 17, plays trumpet and flugelhorn and comes from London; 18-year-old bass trombonist Michaias Berlouis, a student at the Royal Academy of Music in London; Annemarie Federle, a French horn player from Cambridge who at 15 is the youngest player in tonight's competition; and Sam Dye, an 18-year-old trombonist studying in London.

Five exceptional young pianists are hoping to impress as they attempt to win the keyboard category and take the last remaining place in this year's BBC Young Musician semi-final. Filmed at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, presenter Josie d'Arby is joined by pianist Lucy Parham, herself a former Young Musician finalist, who provides expert analysis of each performance. Competing are: 19-year-old Adam Heron from Cheltenham; 16-year-old Lauren Zhang from Birmingham; 16-year-old Elias Ackerley from Wrexham, north Wales; from Nottingham 15-year-old Jeneba Kanneh-Mason; and Mariam Loladze-Meredith from Stockport who's also 15 years old.

The search for the next BBC Young Musician reaches its penultimate stage as the category winners from strings, percussion, woodwind, brass and keyboards compete for three places in Sunday's grand final. Josie D'Arby is joined by acclaimed violinist Nicola Benedetti, BBC Young Musician Winner in 2004, and world-famous trumpeter Alison Balsom, artistic director of the Cheltenham Festival, who won the Brass Category in 1998. The category winners competing in the semi-final are: Matthew Brett, a 17-year-old percussionist from Cheshire, Maxim Calver, 18, who plays the cello and studies at Yehudi Menuhin School in Surrey, and Robert Burton, an 18-year-old saxophonist who is a first-year student at the Royal Academy of Music. They will be joined by the winners of the brass and keyboard category finals.

After a series of thrilling category finals and semi-final, BBC Young Musician 2018 reaches its conclusion. Now only three musicians remain. This year Symphony Hall in Birmingham plays host to the grand final, when these exceptional young finalists will perform a full concerto with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra and the celebrated British conductor Mark Wigglesworth.

The finalists are pianists Reuben Goldmark and Fergus McCreadie, saxophonist Xhosa Cole, and bassists James Owston and Seth Tackaberry.