FOUR young performers will face the biggest test of their musical careers on Saturday when they compete in the final of the Pendle Young Musicians’ Bursary.

Colne Muni will be hosting the event which has £18,000 in prize money up for grabs.

Held every two years, this will be the fourth Bursary award. Funded by a private benefactor, it is open to young musicians aged between 17 and 21 on the day of the final who are aiming to make music their profession and who live within a 30-mile radius of Colne Muni.

Ken Hollas, a member of the bursary panel who will be compering Saturday’s final, said: “The aim of the bursary is to help talented musicians to pursue their dreams of a career in music. It doesn’t necessarily have to be as a performer and it isn’t restricted to classical musicians.

“We can award bursaries to help with studies or even to buy new instruments.”

Previous finalists have included an electronic musician and performers have gone on to run jazz ensembles and work in musical therapy as well as gaining places at prestigious colleges and leading orchestras.

“It’s quite a long process to get to the final stage,” said Ken. “We write to schools, colleges and music tutors inviting applications and the performers have to submit a YouTube video.”

This year 25 videos were submitted and from these eight performers were invited to a public concert at the Muni back in February. From there the final four were chosen.

All the applicants have submitted proposals as to how they would use any money awarded from the bursary.

“These are young musicians who have already got to a very high standard,” said Ken, “but we hope that the bursary will help them on their way and achieve their ambitions. It is a very competitive world to go into and something like having a better instrument could just make that small percentage difference which sets them above another musician.”

For 2018, the finalists are guitarist George Collins, cellist Ben Finlay, cornet and trumpet player Ben Jarvis and pianist Brian Low.

George is a blues musician from Settle currently studying A levels in music, music technology and design along with attending Leeds College of Music; Ben Finlay from Skipton has just completed his first year at the Royal Academy of Music in London; Ben Jarvis is studying music at Runshaw College and Brian at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

The three adjudicators for the final are Marilynne Davis; Bob Riley, chief executive of Manchester Camerata and Peter Young.

“All three adjudicators are highly respected and the bursary panel leaves the assessments of all the finalists in their hands,” said Ken.

There will also be performances from guest vocalist Rumi Sutton; Emma Johnson, a finalist in 2014 who now fronts her own jazz ensemble and the 2016 Bursary winner Henry Cash.

Pendle Young Musicians’ Bursary, Colne Muni, Saturday, June 30, 2pm. Details from 01282 661234 or www.themuni.co.uk. Admission £5.