Yamaha Education Projects

Yamaha Birmingham Accompanist of the Year Award

Distinguished accompanist and 2009 YBAYA judge, Roger Vignoles, who compares the role of the accompanist to that of Ginger Rogers: performing the same dance as Fred Astaire, only ‘backwards and in high heels’. (Photo: Ben Ealovega)

The Yamaha Birmingham Accompanist of the Year Award (YBAYA) is organised by Birmingham City University and Yamaha Music UK. Held every two years, it consistently attracts exceptionally talented musicians from all over the world, who compete for a cash prize of £1,500, donated by Yamaha, and the chance to give a recital.

The 2009 competition final, the tenth YBAYA event, took place on Sunday 22 November 2009 - one of only a few awards celebrating these unsung herores: professional accompanists. Judged over the years by some of the most accomplished professional musicians working today, for its 10th competition YBAYA welcomed back its distinguished inaugural adjudicator Roger Vignoles. During his adjudication, audiences were able to enjoy a short film about the art of accompaniment.

The 2009 winner was Yshani Perinpanayagam (UK), with runners-up: Nana Hizumi (Japan), Amy de Sybel (UK) and Jonathan Fisher (UK). Past winners have included: Joseph Middleton (2007), Nicholas Rimmer & François Salignat (2005), Maki Yoneta & John Reid (2003), Jonathan Gooing (1999).

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(posted: April 2010)