Eurovision Young Musicians 2018

According to an earlier statement by Vladislav Yakovlev, the former executive supervisor of the event, Budapest could host the 2018 contest after bidding for the 2016 edition.[5] On 27 October 2016, the European Broadcasting Union (EBU) launched a call to submit applications for the competition.[6]

In early October 2017, Norwegian broadcaster Norwegian Broadcasting Corporation (NRK) confirmed in an online article regarding its national selection Virtuos, that the United Kingdom would host this edition of the contest in August 2018.[7] On 30 October 2017, the EBU announced that this edition of the contest would be held in Edinburgh between 16 and 24 of August 2018.[8]

On 6 August 2018, it was announced that Petroc Trelawny and Josie D'Arby would host the 2018 competition.[10] Trelawny’s career started at BBC Radio Devon in 1989 as a reporter, before he made his transition to a career in classical music radio and television during the 1990s. Since 1998 he has been a presenter at BBC Radio 3, and is the face of classical magazine programme Music Matters, Radio 3’s Breakfast and concerts in Radio 3 Live in Concert. D’Arby started on Children's BBC (CBBC) in the 1990s before becoming the youngest woman to have her own chat show, Josie, in 1999 on Channel 5. She has co-presented a number of cultural programs for the BBC including; Young Musician of the Year since 2012, Cardiff Singer of the World since 2009, Songs of Praise since 2014 and Young Choir of the Year (2018). Her acting credits include playing series regular WPC Jodie Finn, in BBC One drama Merseybeat from 2002–04. On 11 August 2018, it was revealed that the semi finals would be hosted by Trelawny, with D'Arby joining him in the final.[11]

The winner of the competition was decided by an international panel of classical music luminaries. On 10 August 2018, the EBU announced the jurors of the competition. The judges for the semi-finals are British bassoonist Ursula Leveaux, Spanish percussionist Noè Roderigo Gisbert, Korean pianist Sinae Lee, and the chair cellist and conductor David Watkin.[12] Joining Watkin's at the final were American conductor and violinist Marin Alsop, composer and performer Anna Meredith, Scottish classical composer and conductor James MacMillan and Head of Music for the Edinburgh International Festival, Andrew Moore.[13]

Altogether there are two set of juries: one for the two days of semi-finals and one for the final. In both juries, each juror was to independently rate each performer a score from 1–10 points. The following criteria were taken into account by the jurors in the semi-finals and finals:

• Technical Accuracy
• Quality of Sound
• Interpretation
• Performance

After each juror has awarded his points, these were added together and the result presented to the jury first. However following discussion, the jury may make changes to the numerical rankings by mutual agreement. The six finalists were announced in a random order after the semi-finals on a separate live stream.[14][12] In addition, it was announced that the jury in the final would not know the results of the semi-final jury to avoid interference. In the final, only the winner was announced during the televised broadcast.[15]

The semi-finals consisted of six hour-long shows spread over two days. A total of eighteen countries took part, of which six qualified to the grand final. In each semi-final, three musicians performed, either solo or with piano accompaniment, for a total of 18 minutes each.

Six contestants were selected by the first jury to progress to the Final and the second decided the winner of Eurovision Young Musicians 2018.[20] Each finalist performed one or more movements of a single musical work, accompanied by the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, for up to 12 minutes.[21] The winner received a custom-made engraved trophy, a cash prize of €7,000, and a performance opportunity with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in a forthcoming season. The runner-up received a cash prize of €3,000.[22]

Draw[23]	Country[23]	Performer[23]	Instrument[23]	Piece(s)[23]	Place[23]
01	Norway	Birgitta Elisa Oftestad	Cello	4th mvt from Cello Concerto by E. Elgar	-
02	Slovenia	Nikola Pajanović	Violin	3rd mvt from Violin Concerto by P.I. Tchaikovsky	2
03	Czech Republic	Indi Stivín	Double bass	2nd and 3rd mvt from Bohemian Suite for Double Bass by I. Stivín	-
04	Germany	Mira Foron	Violin	3rd mvt from Violin Concerto by J. Sibelius	-
05	Hungary	Máté Bencze	Saxophone	Concerto da Camera for Saxophone by J. Ibert	-
06	Russia	Ivan Bessonov	Piano	3rd mvt from Piano Concerto No. 1 by P.I. Tchaikovsky	1

•  Austria – On 29 October 2017, the Austrian broadcaster Österreichischer Rundfunk (ORF) announced that they were discussing whether they will participate in Eurovision Young Musicians 2018.[35] Austria decided to withdraw from the 2018 edition, after participating at every previous edition of the contest, with no reasons for their withdrawal being published.[36]
•  Bosnia and Herzegovina – On 24 October 2017, BHRT confirmed that due to financial difficulties the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Bosnia and Herzegovina's last, and only, participation was at the 2012 Young Musicians event.[37]
•  Cyprus – On 2 January 2018, Cyprus Broadcasting Corporation (CyBC) confirmed that due to financial difficulties the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Cyprus last participated at the 2010 Young Musicians event.[38]
•  Denmark – On 3 January 2018, Danish Broadcasting Corporation (DR) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018 and are unlikely to participate in the competition in the coming years. Denmark last participated at the 2002 Young Musicians event.[39]
•  Finland – On 12 January 2018, Yleisradio (YLE) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Finland last participated at the 2008 Young Musicians event.[40]
•  Ireland – On 28 October 2017, Raidió Teilifís Éireann (RTÉ) announced that it would not return to the 2018 Eurovision Young Musicians. Ireland last participated at the 2000 Young Musicians event. However, the Irish-language broadcaster, TG4, which is eligible to take over the responsibility of Ireland's participation, has not released any statements regarding a return to the contest.[41] Ireland was not on the final list of participants released by the EBU.
•  Latvia – On 4 November 2017, Latvijas Televīzija (LTV) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Latvia last participated at the 2002 Young Musicians event.[42]
•  Netherlands – On 30 January 2018, Omroep NTR (NTR) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. The Netherlands last participated at the 2014 Young Musicians event.[43]
•   Switzerland – On 11 November 2017, Schweizer Radio und Fernsehen (SRF) confirmed that the country would not return to the contest in 2018. Switzerland last participated at the 2006 Young Musicians event.[44]
•  Ukraine – On 5 January 2018, National Public Broadcasting Company of Ukraine (UA:PBC) announced that the country is considering a return to the contest in 2018.[45] However, on 14 January 2018, UA:PBC confirmed that the country will not return to the Eurovision Young Musicians in 2018. Ukraine last participated at the 2012 Young Musicians event.[46]

The following list of countries have participated at least once since the inaugural contest in 1982 but have not stated their reasons for their continued absence in competing:[47]