Melia Simonot wins first-ever BBC Radio Scotland young classical musician of the year award

Accordion player Melia Simonot has been revealed as the winner of BBC Radio Scotland’s inaugural Young Classical Musician of the Year competition. Along with a bespoke trophy designed by countertenor Simon Baker, 21-year-old Simonot receives a recording session with BBC Scotland and a special feature on the station’s Classical Now programme.

Simonot was chosen as the winner among finalists including harpist Gina Gallacher, pianist Vita Hofinger Mihelič and oboist Chris Vettraino. Each musician teamed up with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and conductor Martyn Brabbins to compete before a live audience in the grand final at Glasgow City Halls, hosted by broadcaster and musician Jamie MacDougall.

Simonot said: ‘To win the inaugural BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year award is truly amazing and I would like to thank everyone involved as well as my friends and family for their support over the years. Having the opportunity to perform with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at the City Halls is a dream come true in itself.’

The BBC Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year competition is a new platform which highlights talented young and emerging musicians in Scotland. Simonot joins the legacy of Radio Scotland’s previous competition winners including the Young Traditional Musician of the Year, singer, mandolin, and guitar player Calum McIlroy; Young Jazz Musician of the Year, pianist Michael Shankland and BBC Introducing Scottish Act of the Year 2024, Bottle Rockets.

BBC Radio Scotland commissioning editor Heather Kane-Darling said Melia was a ‘worthy winner’ of the award and was keen to showcase more of her performances in the future. She added: ‘The level of the entrants generally and of course the four finalists was outstanding and we could not be more delighted with the event and indeed this competition, through which we hope more young people in Scotland will engage with classical music.’