Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra has announced the young winners of this year's Barker Bursary competition.

The Barker Bursary was set up by the orchestra's president, Jumbo Barker, who is continuing the work of his late father George.

George Barker founded the Uttlesford Orchestra - later Saffron Walden Symphony Orchestra (SWSO) - in the 1980s, and established a bursary scheme to provide opportunities for young people, which ran successfully for several years.

The Barker Bursary launched in its current incarnation last year, and was designed to offer the same opportunities as the original scheme.

Tom Mannion from Saffron Walden is the junior recipient of the Barker BursaryTom Mannion from Saffron Walden is the junior recipient of the Barker Bursary (Image: SWSO) This year the junior prize was won by 15-year-old Tom Mannion from Saffron Walden, who attends Saffron Walden County High School and often plays in the town's Piano Café on Saturday afternoons.

Tom auditioned by improvising on themes from The Lord of the Rings, and impressed the judges with his capacity to draw in his audience and communicate his musical ideas.

He was awarded £2,000 in prize money, and has "lots of plans" for how he will spend it.

The senior prize went to 17-year-old clarinettist Evan Badcock, from Bishop's Stortford.

Evan plays clarinet and saxophone in a variety of bands and ensembles at Bishop's Stortford High School.

Evan Badcock is the senior recipient of the Barker BursaryEvan Badcock is the senior recipient of the Barker Bursary (Image: SWSO) He is also principal clarinet with the Hertfordshire Schools Symphony Orchestra and has led the London Youth Wind Band.

For Evan's audition he performed the first movement of Mozart's Clarinet Concerto and Malcolm Arnold's Sonatina for Clarinet and Piano.

The judges were impressed by his "characterful playing" and "lovely melodic shaping".

Evan was awarded £3,000 and is hoping to buy a clarinet. He will also take up a professional solo performance opportunity as part of his prize.

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The bursary scheme will run again in 2025, and young musicians of at least Grade 5 standard can apply via the orchestra's website at https://www.saffronsymphony.org/swso-barker-bursary/ from January 1, 2025 onwards.

The competition prize money is intended to cover music-related costs such as instrument purchase or repair, travel expenses to lessons, participation in masterclasses or attending music courses.

Entrants must be under 22 and play acoustic/orchestral instruments which can be played in a 'classical' context.