FOUR talented young Kent pianists have won through to the finals of the Kent Messenger Group Focus magazine’s Amateur Pianist of the Year competition in association with Sharon Music and Yamaha.

The overall winner, who will be announced next month, will perform the opening number at Jools Holland’s Rochester Castle concert on July 19.

In the 17 and over category, Jacob Barnes, 17, from Canterbury, now goes head to head with Robert Garrett, 18, from Chatham and in the under 17s’ category, 10-year-old Anna Bennett, from Wye and 15-year-old Madelaine Jones from Walderslade won through.

Fourteen quarter finalists performed a range of pieces, from classical to jazz, during the play-offs at The Roffen Club, Rochester on Wednesday night.

Recordings of all four semi-finalists have now been submitted to Jools Holland, who will choose the overall winner and runner up.

Both will receive a fantastic YDP-131 Yamaha electronic digital piano, courtesy of Sharon Music, with commemorative plaques signed by keyboard wizard Jools Holland, who lives at Cooling, near Rochester.

The judges, Focus editor Debbie Eales, Mike Underwood from Sharon Music in Gillingham, and Yamaha education liaison manager Alistair Jones, were bowled over by the high standard of all the competitors.

Chairman of the judges Debbie Eales said: "Jools is going to have an extremely hard job choosing the overall winner.

"The competition has attracted a wide range of entries, from people of all ages and abilities.

"All of the judges were impressed by the polished performances and musical abilities of the quarter finalists. It is rewarding to know that Kent has such a rich seam of musical talent."

Quarter finalists were: Jacob Rainbow, 14, from Sevenoaks, Elliott Galven, 16, from Rochester; Stephanie Broodbank, 15, from Gillingham; Anna Bennett, 10, from Wye; Madelaine Jones, 15, from Walderslade, Chatham; Oliver Ingham, 15, from Faversham; Richard Keohane, 20, from Gillingham; Robert Garrett, 18, from Chatham; Jacob Barnes, 17, from Canterbury; Oliver Green, 17, from Rochester; Hannah Fox, 17, from Maidstone; Cecilia Vangen, 74, from West Malling; Eddy James, 80, from Chatham and Jack Lynn, 17, from Ashford.