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Jim’s a hit

by Damon Wilkinson
13/ 5/2008

A LITTLEBOROUGH teenager has missed out in his bid to become BBC Young Musician of the Year.

Percussionist Jim Molyneux, 17, was one of five talented musicians to reach the final stage of the prestigious competition.

But he lost out in Sunday’s televised final to fellow Chetham’s School of Music pupil Peter Moore, of Stalybridge, who at 12 years old is the youngest ever winner.

Jim, of Blackstone Edge Old Road, said: "I originally set out just to play and not make myself look like a fool and hopefully I achieved that.

"It is always disappointing to lose but it was great that the award went to Peter because he is an absolutely amazing musician and he is only 12."

During the two-day final, held at the Wales Millennium Centre in Cardiff, Jim performed Tortke’s Rapture for percussion and orchestra and one of his own compositions entitled Midsummer Haze on the marimba, a large Xylophone-style instrument. And despite missing out on one of the biggest prizes in music he remains upbeat.

He added: "Playing at the Millennium Centre was an amazing experience.It looks absolutely incredible and it was just a brilliant feeling."

The former Wardle High School pupil, who is in his penultimate year at Chetham’s in Manchester, will now join the other finalists in performing at Wigmore Hall in London later this year.

His folk band 4Square are also set to release their debut album, 20:20 Manchester, in the summer.