Oskar Baldyga, a Sutton Music Trust student, has been named a winner of the prestigious BBC Young Composer Competition 2025 in the Lower Junior category, earning the opportunity to have a new work performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra as part of this summer's BBC Proms.
The national competition celebrates the UK’s most promising young composers, and Oskar’s success places him among an exceptional group of emerging musical talent. His newly commissioned piece will be performed by the BBC Concert Orchestra during the world-famous Proms season this August, marking a significant milestone in his musical journey.
Oskar joined Sutton Music Trust in 2022 and has progressed through the orchestral programme, beginning with Young Musicians Training Orchestra before moving through the ensembles to become a member of Sutton Youth Symphony Orchestra. Alongside developing as an orchestral musician, Oskar has also flourished as a composer. Earlier this summer, the Young Musicians Training Orchestra performed one of his original compositions at their end-of-year concert, providing him with the opportunity to hear his music brought to life by fellow young musicians.
Joining SMT orchestras has given me an opportunity to expand my musical horizons, understand how orchestras work and approach music, and all that feeds into my musical development as a composer.
Sutton Music Trust are so proud of Oskar and all he has achieved. His journey from joining SMT in 2022 and progressing through our orchestras to having his compositions performed both locally and on the national stage is a wonderful example of what can be achieved through talent, dedication and a love of music. Seeing a young composer from Sutton recognised through the BBC Young Composer Competition and composing music for the BBC Concert Orchestra at the Proms this summer is an extraordinary achievement. Well done, Oskar!
I started playing piano during the lockdown of 2020, when I was 8. I was largely self-taught for the first few months. In Year 4, when cello was introduced as part of wider opportunities back in my primary school, I got interested in it too and started taking lessons with a tutor. From there, composing followed, almost like a natural consequence of me getting more and more interested in music as a whole. Joining SMT orchestras has given me an opportunity to expand my musical horizons, understand how orchestras work and approach music, and all that feeds into my musical development as a composer. I think that my absolute highlight so far were the workshops with the Philharmonia Orchestra string musicians, culminating in a performance at the Southbank and meeting Sheku Kanneh-Mason himself! I am grateful for the opportunity to compose a piece especially for the Training Orchestra. It is actually the second time Mr Brooker approached me with such a kind offer! I think that it’s an invaluable practice for me, and I feel privileged that the young musicians will be publicly playing my music. I can’t wait to hear them perform at their summer concert!
If you feel inspired by Oskar’s journey, you can now join a Sutton Music Trust ensemble to discover similar opportunities and grow as a young musician!
