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It is all systems go for the 40th National Youth Music Competition (NYMC) that will be presented from 2 to 7 December at the Endler Hall, Konservatorium Building, Victoria Street, Stellenbosch.

A total of 21 teenage classical stars have been selected to compete in the week-long competition with prize money totalling R180 000, plus the sought-after gold, silver and bronze medals.

The influential competition for classical instrumentalists showcases talented young musicians between the ages of 14 and 19 years. A panel of renowned musicians selected the 21 candidates from video auditions.

They will compete in five categories for orchestral musical instruments – piano, string instruments, woodwind instruments, brass instruments and other orchestral instruments (harp, percussion, marimba, xylophone, etc.).

Over the five-day contest, they must perform a wide-ranging repertoire of their choice that covers different style periods and South African compositions. All the contestants will play in the first two rounds. Thereafter 12 semi-finalists will compete in the third (semi-final) round to determine who the top six musicians are.

This year, there are contestants in all five categories. The pianists rule the roost with seven contestants. They are followed by the six strings and six woodwind musicians. The balance is made up of one brass instrument and a marimba in the category of other orchestral instruments.

In the 19-week run-up to the competition, the NYMC will individually introduce these 21 rising stars on the website and Facebook pages.