Violinist Emily Sun has been named Young Performer of the Year following a thrilling performance in the Finals of the 2018 ABC Young Performers Awards last night. The concert, which was broadcast live on ABC Classic FM, saw Sun competing against clarinettist Oliver Shermacher and pianist Kevin Chow in the final round of the competition, which began with 109 entrants. These were whittled down to the 12 Semi-Finalists who competed in recitals at City Recital Hall last week, and finally the three Finalists, who performed concertos with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra under the baton of conductor Nicholas Milton at the Sydney Opera House.

Young Performer of the Year Emily Sun. Photo © Tom Truong

The concert began with Shermacher, who gave a charismatic performance of Weber’s First Clarinet Concerto, Milton channeling the almost operatic drama of Weber’s music in the opening and keeping the strings taut beneath the solos. Shermacher’s sound was bright and clear, his technique smooth. His pianissimo following his duet with the SSO horn section in the second movement was a particular highlight, as was the playful humour...