Students shine at the GEMS Apprentice, Aspiring and Young Musician of the Year Competitions 2019.

These now annual competitions took place at Wellington Academy — Al Khail from 22-24 January 2019. In each competition, young musicians had the opportunity to meet and listen to students of the same musical standard as them from across the GEMS Network, as well as participate in masterclasses with instrumental specialists from across the GEMS Music Staff Network. The final for the Aspiring and Young Musician of the Year Competitions took place in the evening on Thursday 24 January. The judges for the final of the Apprentice and Aspiring Musician of the Year were the masterclass leaders from round one of each competition, while the judges for the Young Musician of the Year were esteemed musicians Paul Kemp and Ed Keeley.

GEMS APPRENTICE MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2019
Ten students were selected from the round one masterclasses in the morning to go through to the final which was held in the afternoon. These 10 students performed in front of an invited audience of parents and friends as well as the five masterclass leaders from the morning sessions. The judges selected five students to receive trophies:
Gio Kim — a pianist from Jumeirah Primary School
Elyes Mrabet — a pianist from Jumeirah Primary School
Flora Ward — a violinist from GEMS Wellington Primary School
Jad Abou-Aziz — a pianist from GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis Kristyn DSouza — a vocalist from GEMS Wellington Academy, Silicon Oasis

The title of GEMS Apprentice Musician of the Year 2019 was awarded to Gio Kim from Jumeirah Primary School.

GEMS ASPIRING MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2019
This competition saw five students selected to go through to the final in the evening following masterclasses in the morning. The five finalists were: Leanne Yoon—a pianist from GEMS World Academy — Dubai
Josephine Brock—a pianist from Jumeirah College Dubai
Aarav Dayal — a violin player from Jumeirah Primary School
Katlynn DSouza — a violin player from GEMS Wellington International School Darya Vaziri — a pianist from Jumeirah Primary School (and the Apprentice Musician of the Year 2018)

The title of GEMS Aspiring Musician of the Year 2019 was awarded to Leanne Yoon from GEMS World Academy — Dubai.

GEMS YOUNG MUSICIAN OF THE YEAR 2019
This competition saw 10 students selected to go through to round two in the afternoon following the round one masterclasses in the morning. The 10 students selected then had to perform a second piece of music in front of the panel of judges that consisted of the five masterclass leaders who had worked with them in round one. The judges selected the following five students to go through to the final:
Celine Naude — a violinist from Jumeirah College Dubai (JCD)
Hiroko Hiwatashi — a pianist from GEMS Wellington International School
Kiyoko Hiwatashi — a pianist from GEMS Wellington International School
Vaibhav Aggarwal — a pianist from GEMS Wellington International School
Boglarke Kurucz — a vocalist from GEMS Wellington Academy — Silicon Oasis

For some of these students, this represented their third or even fourth final for this competition as these students have returned each year to compete for the title.

The title of GEMS Young Musician of the Year 2019 was awarded to Boglarka Kurucz from GEMS Wellington Academy — Silicon Oasis.