Bass trombonist James Buckle has won Gold Medal at the Royal Over-seas League (ROSL) Music Competition, the first brass player to do so in the competition’s 65-year history. In a tense final at London’s Cadogan Hall, in the presence of HRH Princess Alexandra, 23-year-old Buckle emerged triumphant with virtuosic and highly musical performances of works by Mozart, Schumann and Bozza, taking home a total of £15,000 in prize money, including the £5,000 Bhumgara Scholarship for professional development.
Buckle’s victory adds him to a long list of distinguished winners since the ROSL competition was founded in 1952 with a first prize that was then just £10. Cellist Jacqueline du Pré was awarded the Gold Medal in 1961, followed by pianists John Lill and Melvyn Tan in 1963 and 1976 respectively, and soprano Lucy Crowe in 2002.
This year’s three runner-up finalists were violinist Mathilde Milwidsky, pianist Dominic Degavino and baritone Nicholas Mogg.
