SWSO Barker Bursary Previous Winners

The winners of the 2024 Barker Bursary Competition have now been chosen.

The Senior prize was won by 17-year-old clarinettist Evan Badcock from Bishop’s Stortford. Evan currently attends the Bishop’s Stortford High School where he plays in a variety of bands and ensembles on both clarinet and saxophone.

He is also principal clarinet with the Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and has led the London Youth Wind Band.

For his audition he performed the first movement of Mozart’s Clarinet Concerto and Malcolm Arnold’s Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano. The judges were impressed by his characterful playing and lovely melodic shaping.

Evan has been awarded £3,000.00 and is hoping to buy an A clarinet. He will also take up a professional solo performance opportunity as part of his prize.

Fifteen-year-old Tom Mannion from Saffron Walden won the Junior prize, and played his own improvisation on themes from The Lord of the Rings in his audition.

The judges particularly noted his capacity to draw in his audience and to communicate his musical ideas. The Saffron Walden County High School student, who can often be heard performing at The Piano Café in Saffron Walden on Saturday afternoons, received prize money of £2,000.00.