Sofía Ros has been named the winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year award.
The young accordionist triumphed in the grand final held at Glasgow’s City Halls over the weekend, performing alongside the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Andrew Gourlay.
The event, hosted by broadcaster and musician Jamie MacDougall, featured three finalists: violinist Emma Baird, alto saxophonist Ziheng Huang and accordionist Ros. Each delivered an exceptional live performance in front of a packed audience and panel of expert judges: Alice Farnham (head judge – conductor, founder and director of Women Conductors, author), Nick Zekulin (head of music programme, Edinburgh International Festival) and Jennifer Martin (composer and music consultant).
Ros said: “I moved to Scotland from Spain when I was 13 to study music, and the BBC has been a big source of inspiration for me ever since. Getting the chance to perform with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra at City Halls is a dream come true, and I’m so grateful for this opportunity and especially grateful to have won.”
Hayley Valentine, director of BBC Scotland, said: “Sofía is a worthy winner of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year award, and we look forward to showcasing more of her performances in the future. The level of entrants was incredibly high, and of course the three finalists were outstanding. 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.”
Heather Kane-Darling, Commissioning Editor at BBC Radio Scotland, said: “Sofía is a truly deserving recipient of the BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician of the Year award. We’re excited to share more of her exceptional performances with our audiences in the future. The overall standard of entries, particularly among the three finalists, was remarkable and we are thrilled to spotlight these talented musicians through the competition. Our hope is that it will inspire more young people across Scotland to connect with and explore the world of classical music.”
Professor Jeffrey Sharkey, Principal of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, said: “It’s been inspiring throughout to have such terrific young musicians demonstrating their technical excellence as well as their passion and creativity. BBC Radio Scotland’s Young Classical Musician of the Year is such a valuable showcase for them and also for classical music in Scotland. My warmest congratulations to all involved.”
As well as the title of BBC Radio Scotland Young Classical Musician 2025, the prize includes a further performance on BBC Radio Scotland later this year. The Young Classical Musician of the Year competition aims to encourage and highlight the wealth of talent in Scotland’s vibrant classical scene.
