The Competition was established in 1984 through the enthusiasm of key members of Ongar Music Club. It aims to support and encourage young Essex musicians of talent and potential, who will enjoy competing and performing in a welcoming, pleasant environment. Past prize winners have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers.
The Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition is open to instrumentalists and singers aged 25 or under who were born, educated or currently reside in Essex. John Lill CBE, the distinguished Essex-born pianist and President of Ongar Music Club, has generously agreed to Awards in his name being presented to the finalists in this annual competition.
THE JOHN LILL AWARDS
The winner of the competition will receive a prize of £1,000, the John Lill Awards Trophy (opposite) to hold for one year and the offer of a recital for Ongar Music Club.
Other prizes will be awarded, totalling more than £1,000. Many of these have been bequeathed or donated by longstanding supporters of this competition and Ongar Music Club.
Two further prizes of will be awarded to the two candidates under 19, not already prizewinners in the current competition, who have given the most outstanding performances in their age group.
Full details of the prizes and jury will be announced in early June.
The Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition is open to instrumentalists and singers aged 25 or under who were born, educated or currently reside in Essex. John Lill CBE, the distinguished Essex-born pianist and President of Ongar Music Club, has generously agreed to Awards in his name being presented to the finalists in this annual competition.
THE JOHN LILL AWARDS
The winner of the competition will receive a prize of £1,000, the John Lill Awards Trophy (opposite) to hold for one year and the offer of a recital for Ongar Music Club.
Other prizes will be awarded, totalling more than £1,000. Many of these have been bequeathed or donated by longstanding supporters of this competition and Ongar Music Club.
Two further prizes of will be awarded to the two candidates under 19, not already prizewinners in the current competition, who have given the most outstanding performances in their age group.
Full details of the prizes and jury will be announced in early June.
Ongar Music Club was founded in 1975 in the small market town of Ongar in Essex by a group of local music-enthusiasts. They presented numerous concerts, and in 1984 founded the prestigious Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition, under the generous patronage of John Lill CBE. A great many past prize winners have gone on to enjoy successful professional careers.
In addition to presenting this renowned competition, the club continued to present concerts, and in 2019 launched a series of lunchtime concerts called Soundbites! With the restrictions of the Covid Pandemic the club adapted their programme schedule, and moved their concerts online. LIVE LOUNGE was created, a season of concerts exclusively on YouTube, not only for members and friends of Ongar Music Club, but also as a Community outreach programme for Care Homes in the UK, bringing music into the homes of all those who are isolated due to Covid restrictions.
Many famous artists have performed in concert and given musical talks for the Club over the years. These include Dame Eva Turner, Sir Peter Pears, Stephen Kovacevich, Denis Matthews, Steven Isserlis, Richard Baker, Fritz Spiegl, Benjamin Grosvenor and The Fairer Sax. The Club was also instrumental in the formation of Ongar Jazz Club. It is this diversity of activity which has ensured the Club’s ongoing success.
On this website you will find details of Soundbites! and LIVE LOUNGE, as well as details of the prestigious Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition. You can download a prospectus and application form on the relevant page.
Membership
Membership of Ongar Music Club costs £20. Student membership is just £10. For more information, please contact [email protected].
In addition to presenting this renowned competition, the club continued to present concerts, and in 2019 launched a series of lunchtime concerts called Soundbites! With the restrictions of the Covid Pandemic the club adapted their programme schedule, and moved their concerts online. LIVE LOUNGE was created, a season of concerts exclusively on YouTube, not only for members and friends of Ongar Music Club, but also as a Community outreach programme for Care Homes in the UK, bringing music into the homes of all those who are isolated due to Covid restrictions.
Many famous artists have performed in concert and given musical talks for the Club over the years. These include Dame Eva Turner, Sir Peter Pears, Stephen Kovacevich, Denis Matthews, Steven Isserlis, Richard Baker, Fritz Spiegl, Benjamin Grosvenor and The Fairer Sax. The Club was also instrumental in the formation of Ongar Jazz Club. It is this diversity of activity which has ensured the Club’s ongoing success.
On this website you will find details of Soundbites! and LIVE LOUNGE, as well as details of the prestigious Essex Young Musician of the Year Competition. You can download a prospectus and application form on the relevant page.
Membership
Membership of Ongar Music Club costs £20. Student membership is just £10. For more information, please contact [email protected].
Great Dunmow is an ancient market town in north-west Essex with an estimated population (2011) of 8,830. The Town Council consists of 18 members: 9 representing the North Ward and 9 for the South Ward.
Extensive public open spaces are administered by the Council, as well as the E.T. Foakes Memorial Hall, the Dourdan Pavilion and other buildings.
The Town Council actively defends, promotes and represents Great Dunmow – we are working hard to ensure the town motto of May Dunmow Prosper continues to be a reality in the future.
Extensive public open spaces are administered by the Council, as well as the E.T. Foakes Memorial Hall, the Dourdan Pavilion and other buildings.
The Town Council actively defends, promotes and represents Great Dunmow – we are working hard to ensure the town motto of May Dunmow Prosper continues to be a reality in the future.