WILTSHIRE Rural Music has announced the winner of its 2018 Liz Lawrence award for the most outstanding musician.

The Liz Lawrence Award is a competitive annual cash prize awarded to a young musician from Wiltshire who is going off to study music at university or at a conservatoire.

This year’s winner is Trowbridge-based pianist Vincent Ling, who was presented with a £1,000 cheque to further his music studies in Austria.

WRM’s creative director Ben Vleminckx said: “We are very proud to offer this award year on year and we wish Vincent all the best with his music studies in Austria and look forward to welcoming him back next year when he returns for his winner’s concert.

“Every year we have fantastic young musicians apply. Our audition panel had a very difficult job but Vincent was truly outstanding.

“His musicianship, presentation and technique were all exceptional and he is a very worthy winner.”

Vincent, 18, said: “In October, I will be starting my Bachelor’s degree in music at the Kunstuniversität Graz (KUG) where I will study with Austrian concert pianist and professor, Markus Schirmer.

“I feel incredibly lucky to study abroad and commit myself fully to the piano and music. To be able to do what I love doing the most, full time, is very exciting.

“I really look forward to working as hard as I can with my professor to ultimately begin to establish myself as a pianist and performer.

“The award will help towards my living expenses whilst abroad, which is something my parents and I are truly thankful for.

“I would like to thank my parents for all they have done for me, before and up to now, in helping me pursue my studies abroad and supporting me in my decision to study in Austria.”

The announcement was made at WRM’s annual Liz Lawrence Award concert on Friday, July 13 at St Margaret’s Hall in Bradford on Avon featuring a performance by last year’s winner, violinist Katherine Stonham.

Katherine, 19, has just finished her first year studying music at Manchester University and the Royal Northern College of Music.

The concert programme featured a full spectrum of musical styles from across a wide range of eras.

Katherine was accompanied on piano by David Price as well as her younger sister Rachel. The sisters closed the concert with a wonderful performance of the Violin Duo in G Major by Boccherini.

Mr Vleminckx added: “It’s a pleasure to see how Katherine has developed as a performer over the past year. We at WRM are delighted to have helped her in her first year of music studies.”

Applications for the 2019 Liz Lawrence Award open in early January and auditions are usually held in May.

If you are a young musician living in Wiltshire and thinking about studying music at higher education WRM would love to hear from you. Contact the office on info@wiltshireruralmusic.co.uk.