Ryan Corbett wins ROSL Annual Music Competition Gold Medal

Accordionist Ryan Corbett won the Gold Medal and first prize of the ROSL Annual Music Competition in the final held on 28 November. Ryan and his fellow competitors performed at Over-Seas House on 28 November for a panel of adjudicators and a live audience.

Having previously won the competition’s keyboard final on 24 November, Corbett is the first accordionist to reach the Gold Medal Final since 1997 and the second to win the medal in the competition’s history.

ROSL artistic director, Geoff Parkin, said: ‘Ryan connected with audience and jury alike with his innate ability to communicate through his accordion. His sound world, phrasing and musicality mark him out as a very special musician, and we look forward to supporting his future career’ 

In a final made up of the competition’s section winners, Corbett beat Matthias Balzat (cello), Milly Forrest (soprano) and Marie Sato (flute) in an event which showcased the talents of the brightest young musicians from across the Commonwealth and beyond.

The ROSL Annual Music Competition grew out of a series of concerts inaugurated in 1947 and became competitive in 1952. A list of past competition winners can be found here.

You can find more information about the ROSL Annual Music Competition at the ROSL website.