Brentwood School proudly announces the launch of the First Brentwood International Music Competition, a landmark initiative designed to attract and celebrate the world’s most talented young musicians. This exciting new venture marks a significant milestone for the school’s Specialist Music Programme, which has already demonstrated exceptional promise in its inaugural term.
The competition will position Brentwood School as a global hub for musical excellence, drawing aspiring musicians from around the world to experience the school’s first-rate facilities, state-of-the-art boarding house, outstanding teaching, and dynamic artistic community.
The Brentwood International Music Competition will offer students worldwide a unique opportunity to showcase their talent through a prestigious platform, culminating in a grand finale held at Brentwood School. All finalists will gain feedback from world-renowned adjudicators, enhancing their musical development.
Winning musicians will receive a range of prestigious awards, including scholarships, bursaries, and monetary prizes. The Grand Prize is the opportunity of a life-changing full boarding bursary worth £60,000 per year; a spot on the school’s Specialist Music Programme and enrolment at the Guildhall School of Music Junior Conservatoire – an unparalleled opportunity for the most exceptional talent.
Brentwood School is a leading independent school renowned for its holistic approach to education, blending academic rigor with outstanding co-curricular opportunities. Its Specialist Music Programme nurtures exceptional talent, fostering the next generation of musicians through world-class training and partnerships with prestigious institutions such as the Guildhall School of Music and Steinway and Sons. Brentwood is one of only twenty-five All-Steinway Schools in the UK.
Grig Cuciuc, Artistic Director of Specialist Music, is an internationally renowned musician and educator. Since his debut at age 15 with the National Chamber Orchestra of Moldova, he has performed as a soloist with ensembles such as the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and King’s Chamber Orchestra and conducted in the UK and Italy. He has taught at Junior Guildhall and Whitgift School, where he helped set up the Whitgift International Music Competition, and has delivered masterclasses across Europe and Central America. A graduate of the Royal College of Music and the Royal Academy of Music, where he earned a DipRAM on full scholarship, Grig has been influenced by traditions going back to famous violinists Auer and Ysaÿe. Fluent in multiple languages, he plays a 1780 Nicolo Gagliano violin and collaborates with the Edvard Grieg Academy in Bergen.
The competition, in collaboration with Brentwood School long-term partner, the Guildhall School of Music, is open to students aged 13 to 17, and will consist of two stages: Online submissions, followed by an in-person live finale on the Essex campus, featuring feedback sessions and prize presentations. After the final, the transformational Grand Prize will be awarded.
The panel will be chaired by Lord Guy Black of Brentwood, Council Chairman of the Royal College of Music and Chairman of Brentwood School Governors. Adjudicators will include Professor Vanessa Latarche, renowned piano pedagogue and Head of Keyboard at the Royal College of Music; Gerard Le Feuvre, acclaimed cellist, composer, and Director of the King’s Chamber Orchestra; Rosie Whitfield, Head of Junior Guildhall, and Grig Cuciuc, Brentwood’s Artistic Director of Specialist Music. Together, they bring with them a wealth of experience teaching, performing, and adjudicating around the world (please note that full details of the panel for the final round will be released once the finalists have been announced, as additional adjudicators may be invited at the discretion of Brentwood School).
The First placed musician will be awarded £1000, the runner-up will be awarded £500, and 3rd Place is £300. All finalists will be eligible for additional rewards including scholarships, bursary awards, masterclasses and an automatic place on the Specialist Programme at Brentwood School (value circa £2,000 per year).
Applications for the Brentwood International Music Competition open today with a submission deadline of Tuesday 1st April. Aspiring musicians from all backgrounds are encouraged to participate, explore the exceptional opportunities available at Brentwood School, and contribute to its growing reputation as a centre for musical excellence.
Brentwood School is located on a 75-acre site in the town centre close to London, which is just 23 minutes away and has excellent transport links and access to main airports. A community of around 1900 students, Brentwood is a warm, down-to-earth environment based very much on a positive community spirit, underpinned by the school’s values – Virtue, Learning, and Manners – that have been in place since 1622. Boarding at Brentwood has a family feel, in keeping with the school’s focus on community spirit and shared values. As an integral part of the school, boarding facilities will be transformed with a new purpose-built Boarding House – opening in September 2025 – featuring university-style light and airy private ensuite study rooms, and a new Sixth Form Café, serving as a vibrant hub for both boarding and day students.
For further details about the competition and how to enter, please visit Brentwood School’s website (click here) or contact our competition committee (email here).