Multi-instrumentalist Charlie is Bexley Young Musician of the Year for 2020

The saying goes that where there’s muck, there’s brass.

But Charlie Keeling, 15, has just proved that where there’s brass, there’s music.

Multi-instrumentalist Charlie is the Bexley Young Musician of the Year 2020, after competing against nine others in front of a packed audience at Bexleyheath’s Townley Grammar School on Saturday.

The teenager from Welling, studying GCSEs at Bexley Grammar School, has attained grade eight for trumpet – and took up the viola two years ago to experience a different aspect of playing in an orchestra.

He has also been playing the guitar since primary school. He attends Bird College where he plays viola in the Concert Orchestra, plus the Bexley Youth Band, Little Big Band and also sings in the Senior Youth Choir.

Charlie plays in his school’s Big Band, Improvisation Group, String Orchestra (viola), Rock School (guitar) and Show Band (trumpet).

When not involved in music which, in various forms, takes up most of his free time, Charlie enjoys reading fiction, playing video games and playing football.

He enjoys composition and hopes to pursue a career as a musician.

The Bexley Young Musician of the Year Awards is one of a series of projects for young people promoted by Rotary up and down the country.

This particular event, the 12th in the series in Bexley, is organised jointly by the four Rotary Clubs of Bexley, Crayford, Erith and Sidcup.

The musicians had just eight minutes each to impress the judges with their skills playing their instruments in a concert programme.

Instruments played included clarinet, piano, flute, alto saxophone and trumpet.

Event MC Maurice Tripp said: “Charlie is a very talented musician and just looking at his list of musical pursuits, I am amazed that he finds time to fit it all in. We all wish him luck in his musical career.”

Whilst the judges were deliberating, the audience were entertained by The Little Big Band which is one of the flagship ensembles of Bird College’s Music Service and has been directed by David McAllister since 2003.

Judge Fraser MacAuley, professor of oboe and assistant head of wind, brass and percussion at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, said “We were all very impressed with the standard of the contestants.”

He stressed how important it was to perform in front of an audience, to learn how to cope with nerves and breathing, and to learn how to build up a communication with the audience.

“This competition has given them an excellent opportunity to do this,” he said.

The other judges were highly acclaimed musicians and music teachers Mikhail Kazakevic and Dennis Mycroft.

Peter Allsop, chairman of the organising committee, said: “This one of the best things that the Rotary clubs of Bexley have done together, and this year’s concert was one of the best we have ever had.”