Sofia Demetriades. Remember the name. The 18-year-old violinist from Leicestershire has been named as the winner of BBC Young Musician 2026 following a sizzling performance of Tchiakovsky’s Violin Concerto at the final at Bristol Beacon.
Joined for the occasion by the BBC National Orchestra of Wales under conductor Alpesh Chauhan and performing in front of the judging panel chaired by pianist Joanna MacGregor, Demetriades was one of a trio of impressive finalists that also included recorder player Alma Nunez Debretzeni and saxophonist Kezia Colton.
Who is Sofia Demetriades?
Demetriades, the sixth violinist to win BBC Young Musician in the competition’s 48-year history, studies with So-Ock Kim and has just started her undergraduate degree at the Royal Academy of Music in London, having previously attended the RAM Junior Department and having taken part in Beare’s Chamber Music. Her past accolades include winning first prize at both the Haslemere International String Competition and the Lipinski-Wieniawski International Violin Competition. She has performed as a soloist across the UK, Europe, and Canada.
Sofia Demetriades follows in the footsteps of pianist Ryan Wang, who won BBC Young Musician 2024, and celebrated classical music stars such as cellist Sheku Kanneh-Mason, violinist Nicola Benedetti, trumpeter Alison Balsom and pianist Benjamin Grosvenor.
Where can I watch BBC Young Musician 2026?
The BBC Young Musician final was presented by broadcaster and writer Petroc Trelawny, and was judged by pianist and composer Joanna MacGregor, conductor and broadcaster Ben Gernon, and celebrated composer and Master of the King’s Music, Errollyn Wallen.
The thrilling final is available to enjoy now on BBC iPlayer and BBC Sounds
