The WMSO Young Musicians' Competition took place on Sunday 14th October 2007, at St. Piran's Centre, Maidenhead. There were fifteen competitors aged 14 to 19 coming from a wide area, including a cellist and pianist from Goslar in Germany and a cellist and oboist from Kortrijk in Belgium, twin towns of Windsor and Maidenhead. Once again the Competition proved to be a most fascinating musical experience, the standard of playing being exceptionally high. Each entrant played a short recital before an appreciative audience, which included the Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead and the Deputy Mayor of Kortrijk. The panel of three adjudicators consisted of Leon Gee, the conductor of the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra, Robert Roscoe the Conductor Laureate of the Orchestra, and Nigel Wilkinson the well-known pianist and conductor.

The first place was awarded to the 15 year old cellist Jozefien Vanherpe from Kortrijk who was presented with the Winner's Trophy by the Mayor of Windsor and Maidenhead. Joint second places were awarded to the 18 year old violinist Claire Sledd, who is at school at Wellington College and studies at the Junior Royal College of Music, and the 14 year old cellist Cecilia Bignall, who studies at the Junior Royal Academy of Music. As the prize for winning the competition Jozefien will play a concerto with the Windsor and Maidenhead Symphony Orchestra during its 2008-2009 season.

Read the Maidenhead Advertiser's article about the competition, complete with video report.

The Orchestra is most grateful to Sheargolds of Maidenhead, the specialist piano and guitar company, who provided the grand piano for the day.