Taking note of the Sedley Wells Music Awards
22 Oct 2025
superb sounds, delivering noteworthy performances at the Sedley Wells Music Competition.
The top instrumental honours have gone to Peter Beasley and Joshua Padayachee, while Oscar Stove, Samuel Belcher, and George Greig have been recognised in the vocal categories.
College Director of Music Hugo Zanker has been “deeply impressed and inspired by the level of musical excellence” on show.
“There was a real joy of music making – something not to be taken for granted in a competition setting,” he says. “All the boys were polite, humble, and supportive of each other. We also appreciated our audience of parents who were so supportive of all the performers, and it was wonderful to welcome back former Director of Music Robert Aburn as our judge for the two-night competition.”
Award winners
Senior instrumental
1st – Peter Beasley (trumpet) – Trumpet Concerto Neruda
2nd – Lucas Zhong (piano) – Impromptu No.3 Faure
3rd= – James Saunders (electric guitar) – Sultans of Swing Dire Straits
3rd= – Paddy Newton (classical guitar) – Prelude from Lute Suite in E minor JS Bach
Highly Commended – Finn Mayers (electric guitar) – Children of Bodom
Highly Commended – Justin Wang (clarinet) – Clarinet Concerto Stamitz
Senior vocal (classical)
1st – Oscar Stove – An Den Monde J Brahms
2nd – Oliver Trollip – O del mio dolce ardor CW Gluck
3rd – Bill Cross – Le Violette Scarlatti
Senior vocal (contemporary)
1st – Samuel Belcher – My Way Frank Sinatra
2nd – Kennedy Xiao – Part of your world (The Little Mermaid)
3rd – Cole Moffatt – I’m not saying a word (Blood Brothers)
Highly Commended – Oliver Sloan – Supermarket Flowers Ed Sheeran
Highly Commended – Casper Talbot – Lose your Mind Carson McKee
Junior instrumental
1st – Joshua Padayachee (cello)
2nd= – Edmond Zhang and Richie Tu (piano)
3rd – Hwijun Kwon (piano)
Highly commended – Charlie Saunders (French horn)
Junior vocal
1st – George Greig – O Holy Night Adolphe Adam
2nd – James Currie Panis Angelicus C Franck
Highly Commended – Vivaan Puri – The Lord Is My Shepherd Howard Goodall
Highly commended – Will Murahidy – Sweet Child of Mine Guns and Roses.
