Piano Semi-final
While BBC2 has been showing master classes over the past five weeks, nearly performers in this year's competition have been competing for 58 places in the semi-final.
Tonight's piano section is the first and features 11 contestants from an original entry of 111. All have been through two regional stages but tonight's pre-recorded contest is the first time they have been heard on a national level.
Coming from the Birmingham
Conservatoire for the first time, the semi-finals are in five categories: the strings, woodwind, percussion and brass will be shown over the next week. Five contestants from each section will be selected for next week's finals.
The concerto final, where the five category winners compete for the overall title of Young
Musician of the Year, will be held at the Barbican Hall in London and broadcast on 10 April.
: Director Sue Knussen
: Executive producer Kriss Rusmanis
Event sponsored by Lloyds Bank
(Strings semi-final: tomorrow at 6.55 pm)