Generously supported by The Richard Carne Trust

Following three rounds of competition of a superb level, the Orpheus Foundation is delighted to announce that Tamsin Thorn is the winner of the inaugural Musician of the Year competition, with Benjamin Baker coming in close second place. Both musicians received a cash prize, generously donated by The Richard Carne Trust. In the Orpheus Sinfonia concert on 25 October 2012 Tamsin performed the Weber Bassoon Concerto and Benjamin the first movement of the Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto under the baton of Toby Purser to a wowed audience at St George’s Hanover Square. The other finalists were Alberto Casadei, Jun Sasaki, and Christopher Graves.

Tamsin Thorn - Bassoon

Formerly Principal Bassoon of The National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain, Tamsin achieved a first class degree this year from The Royal College of Music, and has already performed with The LSO, The Philarmonia Orchestra and The Ulster Orchestra. In October 2012 she won the inaugural Orpheus Sinfonia Musician of The Year competition with a performance of Weber’s bassoon concerto, earning the chance to play this at a full concert with the orchestra, and gaining the £ 1.000 prize offered by sponsor, The Richard Carne Trust. Sister of outstanding oboist Suzie Thorn and clarinettist Becky, she and her sisters perform as The Rose Trio, winning the Royal Overseas League prize, and securing a Wigmore Hall debut, in 2011.

Benjamin Baker - Violin

Benjamin was born in New Zealand in 1990. At the age of seven he played with Nigel Kennedy who recommended The Yehudi Menuhin School where he subsequently accepted a scholarship. Benjamin was privileged to be the last student at the school to know the late Lord Menuhin who glowingly wrote him a personal note: 'Knowing you will do wonderfully well'.

At 12 years old he made his concerto debut at the Mozart Festival in Istanbul. Since then he has performed to great acclaim internationally including concerts in Turkey, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Switzerland, France, Denmark, Sweden and New Zealand as well as major venues in England.

In 2009 Benjamin was the youngest finalist in the prestigious YCAT (Young Concert Artists Trust) Competition at the Wigmore Hall and in May 2011 he was awarded second prize in the Postacchini International Violin Competition in Italy. Most recently in 2012 Benjamin was awarded 1st Prize in the Royal Overseas League Competition string section.

Benjamin currently studies on an ABRSM scholarship at the Royal College of Music with Natasha Boyarsky.

www.benbakerviolin.co.uk