Nuovo Young Musician Competition

Traditional Oak & Timber Company is delighted to once again sponsor Coro Nuovo's bursary for young Sussex musicians.

The annual Young Musician of the Year Competition and Bursary supports aspiring performers with a Sussex connection.

Tradoak is the bursary sponsor.

"I am a music lover myself and if we can help youngsters on their road to success, we are pleased to do so," said Tradoak owner Neil Peskett.

Standards are getting 'higher and higher'

This Sunday (June 3) Coro Nuovo hosts its 2018 Young Musician of the Year Competition and Bursary auditions at St Peter's Church, Chailey.

"This is the third year we have had a bursary and the every year the standard gets higher and higher and more and more people apply," said chairman Kate Kent.

"All 31 applicants this year were absolutely stunning but we had to choose 11 to audition."

Eleven young musicians, both vocalists and instrumentalists, will audition from 1.15pm to 4.45pm on Sunday (June 3).

Visitors are welcome to attend and admission is free. Tea and cake will be available to buy throughout the afternoon.

This year's audition judging panel includes: chairman Kate Kent, deputy chairman and music agent Susan Fleet, international opera singer Jeffrey Lloyd-Roberts, Oathall Community College head of music Carol MacTaggart and Mid Sussex Music Festival chairman Rebecca Dowden.

All applicants for the bursary must have a Sussex connection.

Making music a priority

Four finalists will perform at Coro Nuovo's Summer Concert at St Andrew's Burgess Hill on July 14.

The overall winner receives a bursary of £1,000 with runners up receiving £250 each.

"What Neil does is wonderful because when you study music it is a little bit different to other subjects at university," said Kate.

"It is more expensive because you have to go to auditions, you have to travel, you have to take specialist lessons."

She said Tradoak's support was allowing the competition to gain a higher profile.

"By Neil helping in this way it is really giving music much more of a profile in the county.

"We are rewarding people in Sussex who study music at a high level."

Coro Nuovo

Coro Nuovo is a Sussex-based choir of more than 50 singers in the South East, some of whom are professional musicians.

It supports young choral and instrumental musicians at the start of their professional careers.

Music director Andrew Rees is an international tenor who focuses on quality and subtlety across a broad range of music.

Find out more about the choir at coronuovo.org.uk.

Tradoak – supporting the community

Traditional Oak & Timber Company was formed by Neil Peskett in 1990.

We supply quality reclaimed and air-dried oak beams to the construction industry and direct to consumers.

Our website provides examples of some of the work we have undertaken and products we can supply.

As an independent family business we are passionate about supporting our local community.