The Gibraltar Festival for Young Musicians, organized by GAMPA, will be held as from Monday 25th February to Friday 1st March at the John Mackintosh Hall.

The festival will see entrants from as young as 5 years old to 18 years old competing in different categories. The categories include solo instrumental and vocal performances, duets, ensembles and choirs.

The morning of Wednesday 27th will see The School Festival Day, dedicated to school choirs and ensembles. The finalist of each category will go through to performing and competing in the Gala on Friday at 7pm.

A spokesperson said: "GAMPA is pleased to welcome this year’s adjudicator, Mr. Benjamin Costello. Ben is a freelance musical director, adjudicator, singing coach and accompanist, working internationally. He is also Artistic Director of Thames Concerts, Founding Director of Kingston Chamber Singers, Chorus Master for the Leith Hill Musical Festival, Musical Director of Southampton Choral Society, Assistant Artistic Director of Thames Philharmonic Choir, and on the vocal faculty at Laine Theatre Arts. Over a twenty-year freelance career he has been a musical director on numerous productions across the U.K. and remains a guest conductor and workshop leader with various choirs. He is a specialist in musical theatre, Ben has worked for Arts Ed (London), Guildford School of Acting, the London College of Music, the Royal Academy of Music, Trinity Laban, Mountview Academy, Drama Studio London, and the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art.  Countless of his former-singing students enjoy successful careers in the West End and beyond.  Ben is a Liveryman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians, organising and chairing the Company’s annual musical direction scholarship. Outside of music he is a keen motorcyclist."

Mr. Costello will award trophies and bursaries at the Gala night on Friday 1st March. The Gala Night will see the finalists competing for the Young Musician of the Year award and Best International Musician amongst many other prizes.

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