Fourteen-year-old St. Ignatius Catholic School student Sean Moran was on Saturday evening (2 April) selected as the Butterfield Young Musician of the Year after an intense musical competition between the eight top instrumentalists in the 2022 National Children’s Festival of The Arts (NCFA) preliminary competition. Saxophonist Lewis Bromby of John Gray High School was named runner up.

Sean was in disbelief upon learning that he had emerged the winner of the Young Musician of the Year Competition. “I never expected to make it to the top ten, much less win this competition! The experience is unreal! I am grateful to everyone who has been there with me throughout my journey with music,” he exclaimed.

The competition held at the Cayman Islands Baptist Church was adjudicated by esteemed music educators Ms. Stephanie Williams, Ms. Sue Horrocks and Ms. Janelle Tibbetts. 

Competitors were assessed on their maturity and confidence to see beyond the technical phrases, perform, and tell the piece of music as a story. 

Other finalists included 13-year-old violinist, John Gray High School student Garson Gardiner, 16-year-old electric guitar player, St. Ignatius Catholic School student Gabriel Mathura, classical pianists Mikhail Fedenev of St. Ignatius Catholic School and Chesskamea Daniels from Cayman Prep & High School, cellist Masahiro Takeda, and trombonist 18-year-old Arjun Dhanasekar. A ninth finalist Charles Henderson, was unavoidably absent.

DES Customer Service Manager Mrs. Gloria Bell thanked the sponsors and other partners for their support. “Thanks to Butterfield Bank and the Cayman Arts Festival for their continued support of the development of the Performing Arts in the Cayman Islands. Thanks also to the teachers and families who supported our young musicians as they prepared for this competition.” 

In addition to lauding finalists for their commitment, passion and hard work, Butterfield Bank (Cayman) Limited’s Managing Director, Mr. Michael McWatt, described the occasion as “a real celebration of Cayman’s incredible young talents and the joy music can bring us all.” 

He added, “The pandemic-related challenges of the last two years have heightened our appreciation for live performance. This year’s event was an experience valued not only by the musicians themselves but by everyone fortunate enough to attend.” 

For more details about the Young Musician of the Year Competition and other DES programmes, contact DES Senior Customer Service Officer Nicki Samuels by telephone at 945-1199 or by email at [email protected] or Customer Service Manager Mrs. Gloria Bell by telephone at 926-9727, or 945-1199 or by email at [email protected].