Our Classical Century: BBC's year-long musical feast

There is nothing to beat the atmosphere and sound of a live concert, but BBC radio and TV do a fantastic job at explaining the stories behind the music and capturing one-off events for all the share.

A year-long programme of special classical events just announced includes a celebration of 40 years of the career-making BBC Young Musician of the Year competition, and a major BBC4 series marking the musical milestones of the 20th century.

Previous Young Musician winners include violinist Nicola Benedetti (now the contest's ambassador), cellists Natalie Clein, Guy Johnston and Sheku Kanneh-Mason, oboeist Nicholas Daniel and clarinettist Emma Johnson. A special BBC Prom between July and September will mark the competition's achievements in encouraging two generations of outstanding British players.

The 25 young musicians who make up the 2018 Category Finalists include 2016 winner Sheku Kanneh-Mason's 15-year-old pianist sister, Jeneba Kanneh-Mason. Today's young musicians will be inspired by a documentary tracking the experiences of recent finalists and winners, following their success in the competition, with contributions from Kanneh-Mason, Clein and Benedetti.

Sheku Kanneh-Mason was BBC Young Musician of the Year 2016; his sister Jeneba is a finalist this year

Alan Davey, controller of BBC Radio 3, BBC Orchestras and Choirs and BBC Proms, announcing the classical year said: 'Our aim will be to help people of all ages to begin a new relationship with classical music – or take their existing relationship even further – and make it a habit and passion for life.'

A special concert at LSO St Luke’s by the BBC Concert Orchestra (8 March) will premiere works by women composers that in some cases have not been heard in over 100 years or have never before been performed. Listen live on BBC Radio 3.

Our Classical Century will be broadcast in four parts across the year from autumn 2018 and will survey key historic performances and highlights in the last 100 years of classical music. Essential Classics on BBC Radio 3 also will identify 100 of the most significant moments, events, and pieces of music from across the last century, to be broadcast or staged throughout the year. Our Classical Century will end on the first night of the 2019 Proms (12 July 2019), bringing the classical music story to the present day.

BBC Young Musician, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World, the Leeds International Piano Competition, documentaries and performances such as the Vienna New Year’s Day Concert, and the BBC Proms will also all be aired as usual.

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Transmission dates are yet to be announced.