Percussion Final BBC Young Musician

With the semi-final line-up almost complete, there's a real sense

of anticipation building here at the Royal Welsh College

of Music and Drama in Cardiff.

This weekend we reach the thrilling conclusion of BBC Young Musician 2012.

At the end of tonight's programme we'll have the full line-up

for the semi-final, which you can see tomorrow evening

when our coverage switches over to BBC Two.

The standard has been incredibly high, with four closely-fought

categories and some nail-biting decisions.

In last week's programme, we witnessed a bit of competition history

when Charlotte Barbour-Condini became the first ever recorder player

to win the Woodwind title.

Tonight, rhythm takes centre stage as five young performers

battle it out to win the percussion title...

and move one step closer to the main prize.

It's clearly a great start to your professional career.

Whatever they go on to do in their future careers,

this will stay with them forever.

If you win Young Musician, you've made it.

I watched on TV and thought wouldn't it be great to do that?

Gives them an opportunity they can't possibly have anywhere else.

It helps you understand what performance is.

You have to get every note to the highest possible standard.

My life has been changed.

Certainly a great step on the career ladder.

I wouldn't be here right now if I hadn't won it.

It's amazing!

The percussion round was introduced in 1994

and is always full of variety, excitement and showmanship.

Each competitor has to demonstrate their musical talent

over a range of instruments from the tuned,

like the marimba, to the untuned, like the snare drum.

Reaching this stage of the competition is a huge

achievement in itself

but tonight's finalists will be hoping their journey doesn't end here.

They'll be looking to impress the judges with dazzling technique

across a contemporary repertoire that's very different

from what we've heard so far in the competition.

Expect the unexpected - everything from digital backing tracks

to shouting, to a self-penned composition.

Let's meet our five percussion finalists.

First, 17-year-old James Larter from Northampton,

who also reached this stage of the competition two years ago.

Being here the second time is really great.

I am much more relaxed, definitely more prepared for it.

I'm looking forward to the performance as a whole,

20 minutes of intense pieces.

It's a bit of a marathon, if I am honest.

18-year-old Richard Rayner from Chelmsford in Essex.

I've been practising the pieces

but I haven't been practising too much.

I think there has to be an element of my performance

which I don't know what's going to happen.

As I have gone further in the competition,

I've started to enjoy it and I can't wait to perform.

From Totnes in Devon, 18-year-old Molly Lopresti.

I'm feeling very nervous but really excited as well.

To win this category final means so much.

I never thought I'd get this far. To win it would be amazing.

Peter Rayner is 15 years old and comes from Chelmsford in Essex.

Yesterday, I felt really nervous.

I thought, "Oh my god, it's the competition tomorrow!"

I'm feeling more relaxed and excited about it now.

I'm going to try my hardest and play my best

and I'm looking forward to it.

And 16-year-old Hyun-gi Lee, originally from Seoul in South Korea,

but now studying in the UK.

I can't wait to perform my pieces and show audiences

and the judges what I can do.

I'm quite proud of myself coming this far,

but I'm very excited and happy to be here.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Since the category was introduced back in 1994,

only one percussionist has won the main prize.

And the winner is Adrian Spillett.

14 years after his triumph,

Adrian Spillett is back tonight as a member of our jury.

Let's meet him and the other expert decision-makers.

They are...

Adrian Spillett, celebrated percussionist

and winner of the BBC Young Musician title in 1998.

Certainly looking for some virtuosity, someone to blow us away

with some amazing skills and dexterity and strength and power.

But also the complete contrast as well.

Have they really used the full range of dynamics to keep their programme alive?

Andrea Vogler, an acclaimed performer and educator

and the first female to reach the BBC Young Musician percussion finals.

I think the winning performer will need a good combination

of all three elements, the music, musicality, and the way to perform.

But you have to back that up with a secure technique as well.

And our general adjudicator, Gareth Jones,

Conductor and Founder of Sinfonia Cymru.

It's the musician you're after, rather than the technician.

You have to have a real conviction in the programme you've put forward and belief in it.

Tonight, I would like to see someone challenge themselves

but challenge the audience for something obscure, off the wall.

So there we have it, our three decision-makers looking

for the extra-special something from our percussion finalists tonight.

Well, there's tension in the air here in Cardiff,

as the battle of the percussionists is about to begin.

The jury are taking their seats and the audience are eagerly waiting.

It's time to hear the first of tonight's competitors.

It's never easy to go first

but 17-year-old James Larter is no stranger to this competition.

James Larter reached this stage of BBC Young Musician in 2010.

Being through to the category finals again is really good,

although there's an added element of pressure.

HE SHOUTS

I got to the final last time and didn't get any further.

I think there's more pressure to improve on that.

Two years on, and James is now a full-time student

at the Purcell School of music in Watford.

Purcell was very supportive in the sense that it gives you lots of opportunities

to perform pieces you might be working on for competitions like this one.

Since joining the school,

James's timetable has been jam-packed with musical activities.

People like James soon become a kingpin in the musical life

of a school like this.

He's got the spark. He's a musical firework.

James has been a fantastic livewire since joining Purcell School.

Very good at what percussionists have to do,

which is be part of a team, get organised,

get the gear in and out as well as play magnificently.

James has formed a duo with his friend

and former Purcell student, the clarinettist Jordan Black,

also a category finalist in this year's competition.

We started doing some light music like Flight of the Bumblebee

and Maple Leaf Rag.

We arranged these for percussion and clarinet

which is quite an odd combo!

With just a week to go before BBC Young Musician, James is hoping

to create a splash after setting himself another huge challenge.

We're doing a charity swim for Water Aid and we're swimming

the Channel in this pool, which is 21.5 miles

and we're hoping to do it in 10 hours.

We'd better get training!

Whenever he can, James heads home to visit his parents in Northampton.

As well as taking a bit of a break from his studies,

it's a chance to get his ironing done.

James is a great lover of patterned crazy shirts.

Probably some of James's best shirts are mine,

-I think I would have to say.

-It's his trademark now.

Well, shirts are one thing but right from an early age,

James's biggest passion has been percussion.

-He was forever drumming on the table and doing things like that.

-Tapping, tapping!

He was involved in a lot of things at school,

he was in a samba band and he entered competitions

and won a cup and he was very proud of that.

As he got better, it took over more.

Once he had been at the Royal College for a year or so,

he then knew that's what he wanted to be, a musician.

James has attended the Junior Department of the Royal College of Music

for the past seven years and has percussion lessons with teacher Claire Hasted.

James loves performing.

He loves showboating.

He loves all the fast flashy crazy things.

James will thrive under the pressure on the performance night.

He loves... Not leaving it to the last minute,

but in years gone by I have called him Last-minute Larter.

He loves to kind of leave it to the last minute, have a surge,

he gets the extra adrenaline and goes for it.

He somehow pulls it out of the bag. I think that's how he works.

It's always really good. And on the edge. Which is exciting.

James Larter is ready for this competition.

He's arrived at the right place at exactly the right time.

Well, it's time to find out as bedecked in another splendid shirt,

James Larter opens this category final.

APPLAUSE

The first piece I am going to play is Hugh's Chilled Red by Alan Emslie.

It's technically challenging with lots of fast stick work

and it also uses quite a few extended techniques on the snare drum.

APPLAUSE

Well, James does look completely comfortable up there.

What a cracking start to this evening's performances.

The second piece I am going to play is the first movement

from Trilogy by Dave Maric.

It's got a whole load of instruments - marimba, vibraphone,

lots of little bits.

And I think the most challenging thing about that is

getting it together with the CD and really grooving with it.

APPLAUSE

It's just great theatre, isn't it?

It's absolutely incredible to watch James just

leaping around the stage - the first time we've seen a real

multi-percussion ensemble piece going on.

He seemed to love it. The CD backing track,

I know the influences range far and wide from trance music and drum and bass.

He was just completely into it. A great way to start this final.

The third piece I am going to play is Marimba Spiritual

and I will play both movements.

The first movement is a requiem to the 1980s African famine in Ethiopia.

It's got a mixture of angry emotions, pity, sadness.

The second movement is a lively sort of resurrection.

There's lots of shouting.

I think it'll be really exciting, especially as I am being

accompanied by one of my good friends on the Japanese drums.

APPLAUSE

Electrifying performance from James Larter.

Wow, he has set the bar incredibly high.

He looked like he was having the time of his life

and the audience clearly loved it.

His teachers look pretty delighted, too. I wonder what James is feeling.

It's over!

Understandably relieved. So, what did the judges make of that?

-Very, very energetic performance from James.

-It was exciting.

He definitely engaged the audience, no doubt.

What a performance, what a way to open the final. How does it feel?

Very exhausting. I picked a very exhausting programme.

-You did look like you were having the time of your life.

-Yeah, definitely.

I thought he was fantastic. It was a wonderful performance. I was so proud of him.

Next up, Richard Rayner, and in a first for this competition,

he'll go head-to-head with his younger brother, Peter,

who we'll see later on in this final.

It's obviously a very musical but rather noisy household.

# So quiet Shh, shh

# It's oh, so still... #

Richard comes from the tranquil countryside near Chelmsford in Essex.

# And so peaceful until... #

DRUM KIT PLAYS

Well, it's not only Richard.

There's his brother, Peter, who is also in this category final.

Luke.

And Rebecca. Four very noisy siblings in the Rayner household.

How do the parents cope?

We just let them get on with it, to be honest with you.

We stick them outside

and let the neighbours put up with it.

Richard, the eldest of the Rayner Fab Four,

was determined to play the drums from an early age.

I got into drums when I was about five.

There was always a drum kit at our house cos dad was in a band

and I was never allowed to touch it.

So that immediately made me want to touch it, and so I did.

Well, Richard's determination certainly paid off.

He won the title Young Drummer of the Year in 2009.

He also became well known for his hairstyles.

It started off in, like, a fan Mohican.

And then it turned into these big spikes.

They just sort of stuck on my head.

Yeah, that was a lot of fun. But no more.

Got to take it seriously now.

When he was 16, Richard gained a scholarship to Felsted School,

where he now boards.

Here, he has plenty of support to focus on his music studies and practice.

Richard is one of the most single-minded

and driven young people I've ever known.

To have someone so focused on where he's going

and where he sees himself ending up is really inspirational.

Whether that means conservatoire,

or whether that means rock stardom,

at this stage, who knows?

But whatever it is, he'll be great at it

and he will inspire other people.

It's Saturday and the Rayner family are reunited.

Both Richard and brother Peter attend Junior Guildhall

for a full day of music making.

Richard's a very natural performer, always has been.

That's one of his strengths. He's always looked comfortable at an instrument.

You just believe what he's playing.

That sounds like the X Factor but it's true.

He is one of the very few people who can play the drum kit the way he does,

and then walk to a marimba and play that equally sensitively.

We can go between genres so easily.

He's always been able to feel music, no matter what style of music it is.

He does lots and lots of different things, which makes him very open-minded.

He'll do this jazz lesson at 8.30 on Saturday morning

after playing in the Carling Academy with his rock band the night before.

I've just done three weeks in Thailand

and I've got a UK tour starting next week.

So I haven't had much time to practise recently.

Indeed.

Richard's currently going down a storm drumming with his band, Franco.

ROCK MUSIC

# Take me to your foreign land... #

I've been in Franco for about nine months now.

Since I've joined, it's just been an amazing experience.

It's just so different to classical music and jazz,

which is what I'm used to.

I think I've been able to take things away from that

and adapt it to orchestral music.

Hopefully that's something I'll be able to show in the percussion finals.

# All hands on deck... #

Richard's certainly no stranger to the spotlight

and he clearly loves playing to a crowd.

But will this confidence be reflected on the BBC Young Musician stage?

I would like to think that performing is one of my strengths.

I just get into the moment, really. I enjoy performing to people.

And hopefully people enjoy watching as well.

Well, with the support of his bandmates in the wings,

Richard has just 20 minutes to impress the judges

in his bid to win this percussion title.

He's opening with the same piece that James played earlier.

Hugh's Chilled Red, I think is going to be a good opener for me.

I really enjoy playing the piece. There's bits where it's loud, quiet,

where it's unexpected,

things you do with the sticks you wouldn't normally do in a piece.

And I think it's going to be a lot of fun and it'll go quite well.

AUDIENCE MEMBER CLAPS

APPLAUSE

Big smile from Richard.

It'll be interesting to see how the judges compare his and James'

interpretation of that piece, Hugh's Chilled Red.

The second piece I'm going to play is called Rotations.

It's a softer piece on the marimba and it's going to bring the mood down,

so hopefully when I play the next piece it will be a massive contrast.

-APPLAUSE

-I thought that was just absolutely fantastic from Richard Rayner.

Really, really involved with his marimba playing there.

I think it was a tough one for him to start with the same piece that James Larter started with,

but he really came into his own with the marimba there.

He's got this wonderful enigmatic little smile.

He's very involved in it and it's very compelling to watch.

The third piece, I wrote myself.

It's called Uprising, for drum kit and some extra little bits and bobs.

I think it shows off what I can do and because I've written it for myself,

I've chosen things I know I can do well, and hopefully show off.

The last piece I'm going to play is called Little Friendly Giant by Lalo.

It's a lot of fun, because I'm playing it with my bandmates from Franco.

So the guitarist is playing drums,

the bass player's playing bass. It's going to be a laugh.

APPLAUSE AND CHEERING

Richard seemed completely in his element there, joined on stage

by a couple of his bandmates and all of them clearly loving every second.

From the sound of it, the audience loved his performance too,

but did it impress the judges?

It departed from the classical music side of things a bit

more than most people have so far and was a bit more rock and roll.

So suddenly I feel like I'm backstage at a rock gig,

not a classical music competition, but for the best possible reasons.

You totally stormed it out there. How did it feel?

It was a lot of fun, weren't it?

It was a really good atmosphere, a really good vibe.

The audience were really enjoying it, so we were just giving it back.

Richard's programming was excellent.

The way he linked worked really well.

Well, some swaggering bravado from our first two finalists.

I'm still buzzing after that.

Still to come, Richard's younger brother Peter

as well as Hyun-Gi Lee.

Next up, it's 18-year-old Molly Lopresti.

Molly Lopresti lives in Totnes in Devon.

She attends the local school, where her love for percussion

and performing has flourished.

I'm not in a specialist music school,

but I feel that here there's a lot of opportunity

to play in different ensembles, be involved in different productions.

I don't feel like I've missed out on anything from being here.

One of Molly's biggest influences has been Kathy Banks,

her percussion teacher.

'When she was 13,

'she started having lessons with me.

'She was just an average, lovely student.'

Within two years, she gained a distinction at Grade 8.

'It was just amazing to watch her.

'She really drew you in when she played.'

Now in her final year at school, it's a busy time for Molly,

fitting in her practice with her A Levels.

'Molly is very self-motivated.

'I've never met an individual'

who has a focus in her head of what she wants to do and does it.

I'm just repeating that section that keeps coming back through the piece.

'It's a delight to have her in the class.'

I've used her quite a few times to do some actual

individual teaching and leading sessions in the group.

That's really good. When you play the scale, look where you're playing it.

'She is inspiring.'

There are now lots of young percussionists

coming up through the school,

'following in her footsteps.'

Well done!

Molly lives at home with her parents

and her younger sister Tilda.

It's here that her musical journey began.

My mum's musical. She plays lots of instruments,

so music's always been around.

Also my dad's an actor,

so he likes to help with my performance, giving me tips.

They're both really helpful.

She had been playing music since she was six or seven,

because she did play at primary school as well.

Recorder, African drumming.

It wasn't until she was at secondary school

that she suddenly moved on very quickly, I think.

Then we were faced with having to buy a marimba.

We always knew that was what she really wanted and it was serious.

Every other Saturday,

I travel to London on the train to get to Trinity.

Molly's been taking that four-hour journey to London for lessons

with percussion teacher Joby Burgess for the past two years.

Solid.

'Musically, now, what she's playing compared to two years ago'

is really technically difficult stuff. Stuff you might be playing

'third or fourth year at music college or beyond.'

Just think about cherry blossoms falling from the sky.

'Whenever I come back from a lesson with Joby, I always feel

'really inspired, really ready to start practising again.'

She's just completely devoted to music,

but she's also devoted to her friends.

So I think, you know, thank goodness she hasn't become a geeky musician!

She's also committed to having fun,

as long as she's done X number of hours' practice that day.

My friends' support means everything

and I don't think I could've got this far without them.

We're so proud of her and definitely wish her the best of luck.

Really best of luck, we're so pleased.

ALL: Good luck, Molly!

Well, there's plenty of Totnes support here,

ready to cheer Molly on.

But as she prepares herself for her performance, how is she feeling?

I'm really worried about just getting on stage and getting so nervous

that I can't really control the notes and just getting into a mess.

But hopefully I'll just go on and I'll be calm,

and I just want to enjoy it.

APPLAUSE

Well, Molly likes to play barefoot.

Hopefully that'll calm her nerves in her first piece.

Mexican Dance for Marimba by composer Gordon Stout.

APPLAUSE

Really engaging start by Molly. Lots of smiles there from Mum and Dad.

The second piece I'm going to play is A Little Prayer by Evelyn Glennie.

You really have to imagine maybe a big church just to get

yourself in the mood, so the audience can really feel

what you're feeling when you're playing the piece.

APPLAUSE

Well, she's absolutely lovely to watch, Molly.

Really holding the stage. She's got a lot of presence.

I really enjoyed in particular, her second piece,

because it showed how lyrical and expressive percussion can be.

Next, Molly will perform a multi-percussion piece,

The Love of l'Histoire, by Charles DeLancey.

APPLAUSE

Molly, dancing her way barefoot around the instruments

in that multi-percussion piece.

To end her repertoire, now, she returns to the marimba.

The final piece I'm playing tonight

is Dream of the Cherry Blossoms.

It's the one that shows off all of the different runs on the marimba

and there's so much you can do with it.

It's quite a loud and impressive piece.

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

Molly is getting a very enthusiastic reaction there from the audience.

Such a graceful player. Very warm presence on stage.

Her teacher and friends look happy. As does Molly herself.

Let's hear what the judges have to say.

It was lovely to see the softer side of the marimba

explored in Molly's programme.

I also really enjoyed her performance

of Love of the l'Histoire.

A fun character to watch, and she really thought about the performance side of things.

-How does it feel?

-I really enjoyed it, actually.

I enjoyed it more than I thought I would. I didn't get too nervous.

And the pieces were OK. So, yes, I'm happy.

I thought she played absolutely beautifully.

I thought she looked absolutely stunning up there.

And the emotion that poured out of her was absolutely beautiful.

Following Molly, it's another of those Rayner brothers - Peter,

the youngest competitor in this final.

In the noisy, musical Rayner household, 15-year-old Peter

likes to escape to the studio at the bottom of the garden.

I usually practise about three hours a day.

Percussion being a physical instrument,

you can get blisters, especially for this competition.

I've just had to put plasters on and get over it, really.

I like to practise as if I am the worst percussionist,

so I can practise even more.

Peter is very focused on whatever he does, so if he decides

to learn a new piece, he will put a lot of time in and he will learn it.

Peter attends the local comprehensive.

As it doesn't specialise in music, the head teacher has tailored

Peter's timetable, enabling him to fit in some extra practice.

We have a lot of youngsters who take music,

but Peter clearly needs to practise more than most.

He has his own practice room that he works in, with his own drum kit.

He's incredibly driven, and very keen to work hard and succeed.

We're really proud and pleased for him.

A month before this category final,

Peter and his mum are in London for a rehearsal

with the Docklands Sinfonia Orchestra,

who Peter has been playing with almost a year.

With so much kit to get organised,

there's plenty to do before the orchestra rehearsal begins.

But Mum is always ready to give Peter a helping hand.

I'm the youngest in the orchestra, which adds pressure,

but I do enjoy it.

It's just a great opportunity to be playing with them, really.

Peter is four or five years younger than the youngest person

in the orchestra, and he's playing beautifully.

His confidence has grown. And actually, he's now two concerts in

and he's really earned the respect of the orchestra.

Two days later, Peter's in London again. This time,

he's back for lessons at Junior Guildhall,

along with brother Richard and sister Rebecca.

Peter has a full day of music-making ahead of him,

including a percussion lesson with Rob Farrer.

Peter is quite a reserved performer.

Sometimes I really have to get out of him

the sort of ups and downs of the music.

Diddle-ah, diddle-ah, dah, dah, dah, dah.

A bit more rock about it.

'For his age, you know, he's got a fantastic technique'.

He's quite a serious-minded performer, and I think that

will possibly come across in his performance on the day.

During his day at Junior Guildhall,

Peter quite enjoys playing alongside Richard.

But when it comes to the BBC Young Musician Percussion Final,

the question is,

will it be brotherly love or rivalry between them?

On the day, I will be watching Richard,

because he's my brother, to see how well he's doing.

And to see where his mistakes are,

so I can improve where his mistakes are! THEY LAUGH

So, I could have a better chance of winning, hopefully.

Peter Rayner, ready to prove he's got what it takes.

And for the time being at least, it looks like brotherly love prevails.

The first piece I'm playing is Prism, by Keiko Abe.

It's very fast and hopefully I will hit all the right notes.

APPLAUSE

Peter, getting his recital off to a confident start on the marimba.

My second piece is Cold Pressed, by David Hollinden

for multi-percussion.

With this piece, I have to make sure the setup is 100%

where I want it, because recently,

I've played it and had it all the wrong way round.

APPLAUSE

Well, one of Peter's instruments

rather dramatically broke there, but he doesn't look too fazed.

He's a very different personality to his brother, Richard,

but he's got a strong sense of his own musical identity,

and he's doing a fantastic job.

Peter now returns to the marimba to play Michi,

the second of his two pieces by Keiko Abe.

APPLAUSE

Well, a great response to Peter's performance there.

Our youngest competitor in the percussion final,

and the whole family look very pleased and proud.

Let's hear what the judges thought.

I thought Peter's performance was really musical.

There were some lovely moments in it. Especially in his Cold Pressed.

I thought that went very, very well.

-Your Chinese temple block broke - what happened?

-I don't really know!

-It just fell off.

-Did it throw you, do you think?

Or were you quite cool about it?

No, it definitely threw me, but I'm sure it's understandable.

-I guess it's all part of the thrill of the live performance, really.

-Yeah.

I loved his choir playing on the marimba.

I thought it was really very, very evocative,

and really well-controlled.

What a completely thrilling category this is turning out to be.

Time now for our final percussionist, Hyun-gi Lee.

Born in South Korea, 16-year-old Hyun-gi Lee now lives in the UK.

And since being here, she's adopted another name.

I'm known as Gina here, because that's easier.

Gina has attended the Purcell School of Music

since she moved to the UK when she was 12 years old.

I practise about six hours a day.

And it's not that hard, cos this is what I want to do.

Gina is an interesting girl.

She's quietly very, very confident, and she's probably one of the

most sensitive marimba players that I've ever come across.

I just love this instrument so much.

It goes into your heart. It's just so pretty, I can't, like, let it go.

# Magnificat

# Magnificat... #

Between her practice and GCSE studies, Gina also enjoys

taking part in a whole range of musical activities at the school.

Gina's made an amazing impact in a very short time at Purcell School.

She very quickly made herself at home.

One concerto opportunity within about a week.

And she totally took us by storm.

Within two years of Gina and her family moving to the UK,

her parents had to return to Seoul.

Gina, however, wanted to stay on at Purcell School,

and continue her musical studies.

It was quite a hard choice to stay here on my own

without my family around. Yeah.

Holidays mean a chance to return home to Seoul.

Gina likes to make the most of this precious time,

having fun with her family and friends.

THEY SING

My mum is a piano teacher, so I started music since I was born.

When I go to Korea, there are little nieces of mine.

They like me so much, and they always miss me, they always ask,

"Mum, when's Gina coming?

It's quite difficult to be far away from Seoul, but I need to work hard

and just go to Korea every holidays and have fun, and come back again.

Back in the UK, Gina's attending the junior department

at the Royal College of Music for a percussion lesson

with teacher Cameron Sinclair.

I think Gina is the consummate musician.

In many ways, she's got it all. She's got a fantastic technique.

She plays things with such clarity, and a great feel.

But the most important thing about her is her musicality.

She plays with incredible love and care, and that was very clear

when she came to the RCM for her audition as a 13-year-old.

It was obvious that she was really playing from the heart.

She does get nervous, but I know that she's going to be able

to keep a lid on it and give a really good performance.

-Ah, ah!

-OK.

-THEY LAUGH

I think I'll be nervous,

but I'm just going to enjoy myself there and play it with my heart.

I hope it's going to be OK.

Standing by to go on. OK. Stand by.

'Unfortunately, my parents can't come,

'because they're in Korea right now.'

-Going on.

-'But my teachers are going to be here supporting me, hopefully'.

APPLAUSE

My parents said they will always be supporting me in their hearts.

To begin, Hyun-Gi will perform Marimba Spiritual,

the same piece that James Larter played earlier.

Yo!

Yo!

'I chose this piece, because it can show my technical skills'.

As well as some drumming skills, because I'm going to move into drum

in the middle bit, and do some Japanese kind of drumming.

Hah!

THEY SHOUT

Yo!

CHEERING AND APPLAUSE

What a way to start.

Hyun-gi immediately showing that she is a force to reckoned with

in this percussion final.

The second piece I'm going to play is Garage Drummer, by James Campbell.

It's accompanied by a CD track.

It involves some guitar in the accompaniment as well,

so it's quite funky.

But it's very percussionic in a way.

CYMBALS CONTINUE TO RING

SHE DAMPENS THE SOUND

SOUND FINALLY DIES AWAY

APPLAUSE

CHEERING

Well, Hyun-gi's schoolteacher looks thrilled

with the way she's performing tonight.

The third place I'm going to play is called Caritas.

I'm playing the third movement, which is Majestic, by Michael Burritt.

It is very musical. I love this piece so much.

I think it's my favourite piece out of all.

APPLAUSE

Wow! I never thought a marimba player

was going to bring a tear to my eye.

In the best possible way,

but normally it's just about the fireworks and the virtuosity.

That was so moving.

I think she is just playing astoundingly.

For me, she is now the one to beat.

Hyun-gi also played her own arrangement

of a Chopin etude on the marimba, in a fantastic conclusion to this percussion final.

Well, she looks cool as a cucumber. What do the judges think?

Superb tone quality

and different sounds coming from the instrument,

and I loved her multi-percussion piece.

Seamless movement between instruments and complete control.

Very impressive.

Really massive dynamic range, and by that

I don't just mean the extremes, but all the grades in between.

Hyun-gi, that was absolutely mesmerising.

Completely spellbinding. How do you feel?

I am quite pleased with my performance. I'm exhausted now.

I bet you are!

It was completely heartfelt.

You could see her, in a way, floating above the stage somewhere.

It was almost like she had an out-of-body musical experience.

It was just incredibly exciting music making.

Well, that's it. What an absolutely thrilling and dramatic way

to end this year's BBC Young Musician category finals.

Our five percussionists really gave it their all.

I can only imagine how nervous they are feeling backstage

because only one of them is going through to the semi-final.

And, making the decisions -

former BBC Young Musician winner, percussionist Adrian Spillett.

Acclaimed performer and educator Andrea Vogler.

And Gareth Jones, founder and director of Sinfonia Cymru.

So, a wonderful final tonight, really such a high standard.

First up was James.

The Marimba Spiritual I thought was a real tour de force.

Did a bit of ad lib improvisation and changed the drumming section.

Actually, I found it quite inventive. I wasn't upset by it at all.

For me, personally, I would have liked to hear

-just a little bit more of the softer range of the instrument.

-OK.

Good communicator with the audience?

Yes, and a very, very energetic performer.

You can tell he meant every single note that he played.

And secondly, we heard Richard.

Very flamboyant - it seems quite natural for him to be on the stage.

A big dynamic range. One of the only ones to really fill the hall

with a massive sound.

I liked his programming, I felt that gave a really lovely contrast.

And the seamless link into his last piece where he was joined by two friends to make music.

It had a lovely informality to it and you really got the sense of colleagues enjoying making music.

Definitely.

We then had Molly, who gave us quite a lot of marimba in her programme.

The final piece, the Cherry Blossom, seems a tough ask.

It is, it's a tough piece, certainly the dynamics.

You really had to draw your ear in to hear those really quiet sounds.

But I like the fact she took the risk.

Yes, it was lovely to hear the softer side of the marimba,

because that is often neglected these days in terms of... more for the hard-hitting playing.

Peter followed.

I loved the Hollinden piece.

I thought that was really very successful.

I know that piece very well and he really played every note as it should be.

He was the only percussionist to play some really quiet playing

which wasn't on a marimba or vibraphone, which is nice to hear.

Prism was a piece that I know very well.

For me there could have been just a little bit more room for breath.

Having said that, he made up for that in Michi. I really liked his phrasing.

I thought that was much more mature playing.

The final competitor was Hyun-gi Lee.

The balance of her programme, I thought, was terrific.

Really engaging. I was drawn in by everything she played.

And all the subtle stick changes she had, from sticks to bows.

I just was always with her, every time she was doing something.

I thought it was terrific.

I loved her dynamic range on the marimba.

And the tone quality from the instrument,

she just had exactly the right stick for the Burritt.

So we have a decision to make. We'd better crack on with it.

As the jury continue their deliberations,

what did the audience make of tonight's percussion category final?

What a fantastic advert for percussion playing

and for percussionists, and for young people.

It's just a brilliant occasion.

Oh, God, I was blown away.

The talent and just the whole musicality of the evening

I thought was great.

The standard was absolutely fantastic.

Very humbling, actually. Of music making, not just of percussion playing.

Really talented, they all deserve to win.

It's a shame there's only one winner.

I really wouldn't like to be the judges.

I think they've got a really difficult decision now to make.

Well, the judges have made their decision and the wait is almost over.

Our five fantastic finalists are waiting backstage to hear the verdict

from jury member and former BBC Young Musician Adrian Spillett.

Wow, what a day, what an evening!

Some really gutsy performances tonight

and it's been lovely to hear some really interesting new pieces.

I won't waste any more time.

The winner of the BBC Young Musician 2012 Percussion Category Final...

is Hyun-gi Lee.

APPLAUSE

Hyun-gi Lee, known to her friends as Gina,

triumphs in what has been a truly sensational percussion final.

Judging by the reaction of the audience in the hall,

she is a hugely popular winner too.

Hyun-gi's technique was just so smooth

and so fluid that it drew you in to what she was playing.

There's a grace, there's a fluidity,

she just almost dances around the stage.

She created an atmosphere which just stood out from the rest

that little bit more.

Gina, huge congratulations. How are you feeling right now?

I'm so thrilled, I'm happy, I can't explain.

You don't have to find the words. Your percussion just says it all.

Your mum's in Korea. What do you think she's going to say when you tell her the news?

She'll be very happy and then she'll be, like, next one, semi-final.

Go and enjoy this moment - go and ring your mum!

I am absolutely bowled over.

'That, tonight, came absolutely from the heart.'

She had a wow factor.

Give us five! Whoa!

If you see a marimba, you'd want to play it like Gina.

I would!

SHE SPEAKS IN KOREAN

She's crying.

What an extraordinary night.

Huge congratulations to Hyun-gi Lee,

winner of the BBC Young Musician 2012 Percussion category.

So, we now have all five semi-finalists

and it is quite a formidable line-up.

This round is different

because they're competing against other instruments.

It will get the adrenaline going.

I think it will open people's eyes and change views about the recorder.

I was completely blown away.

I'm hoping to play a concerto, fingers crossed.

-She wasn't afraid to really go for it.

-It's just overwhelming.

This girl makes such a wonderful sound.

I'm quite determined.

I'll be overjoyed if I manage to make it to the next round.

Impressed us all.

Really get into the music, try and be at one with it.

It was a difficult one for the judges.

The three semi-finalists going through

to the BBC Young Musician 2012 final are...

So, join me over on BBC Two tomorrow night

for the semi-final of BBC Young Musician 2012.

At stake, just three places in Sunday's final.

It promises to be nail-biting to the end.

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