Yomi Africa Presents the Young Talent Championship

There is a quiet gap growing inside African church and classical music. Many of the organists and choirmasters we admire today were formed through years of steady service, close mentorship, and disciplined practice. But for younger musicians, that pathway is not always clear. Access to instruments is uneven, structured training is inconsistent, and truly gifted children can easily remain unseen.

The Young Talent Championship exists to change that.

This is more than a competition. It is a platform that treats young organists with dignity, celebrates sacred excellence, and rewards the kind of growth that strengthens choirs, churches, and the wider music community.

Across many African communities, the church remains the most reliable home for classical musicianship. It is where young musicians learn discipline, develop musical ears, and understand the responsibility of accompaniment. The organ is not only an instrument. It is a tradition that trains the mind, builds leadership, and teaches a musician to serve something bigger than personal applause.

A well trained young organist becomes more than a performer. They become a dependable accompanist, a steady musical anchor in worship, and often, a future music director. When we invest early, we strengthen congregational singing, uplift the standard of church music, and preserve a heritage that can easily be lost when a generation is not intentionally raised.

This championship is also about visibility. Many young organists practise faithfully, but few have the chance to be assessed, encouraged, and rewarded in a structured way. The Young Talent Championship creates that pathway, with clear stages, clear rules, and a serious standard.

The championship is organised by Yomi Africa, a brand committed to promoting African excellence across culture, education, and the arts. Through storytelling, media, and community focused projects, Yomi Africa continues to position African talent where it belongs, visible, valued, and taken seriously. This championship is part of that wider commitment to nurture gift, reward hard work, and build credible systems that young people can grow through.

Partners

This championship is delivered in partnership with organisations that are actively strengthening African arts and music.

African Art Music TV ( AAMTV) is an organisation that promotes and celebrates African art, music, and the culture of Africa.

African Art Times ( AAT) is a platform that publishes articles and propagates stories about great events and opportunities in art, music, and culture across Africa.

International Music Business Institute ( IMBI) is an organisation that helps musicians build a profitable career from their music skills. They teach the business of music and how to make money from music talent.

The Young Talent Championship is open to young organists aged 9 to 17. Contestants will perform hymns and anthems, with prizes designed to reward excellence and encourage continued development.

Prizes

First Prize ₦250,000

Second Prize ₦100,000

Third Prize ₦50,000

The first 20 best entries will be selected, and only 3 winners will emerge.

Key dates

Registration: 1 February to 15 February

Screening: 15 February to 28 February

Championship stage: March

1. Eligibility

Open to young organists aged 9 to 17. Participants must have active Facebook and Instagram accounts.

 2. Performance state

You may record and perform in a church or at home.

 3. What to prepare

Prepare five hymns played accurately. For each hymn, clearly state the name of the hymn book and the name of the hymn tune.

Prepare one feature piece, either an anthem, an organ recital piece, or an oratorio selection arranged for organ.

Prepare for an impromptu hymn challenge. You will be given a hymn to prepare within a short time frame to test speed of learning and practice.

Prepare for an accompaniment test. Record a video of you accompanying a hymn while someone sings, to assess coordination.

Prepare for a sight reading test with a 24 hour rule. You will receive an impromptu hymn and must submit your video within 24 hours.

 4. Pedalling

Pedalling is not compulsory. Strong and appropriate pedalling may be considered an added advantage.

 5. Video time frame

No video should be more than 5 minutes, except where the organisers explicitly state otherwise.

 6. Video quality and format

Use a very good phone camera with adequate lighting. Dark rooms, blurry videos, or poor quality videos will be disqualified.

Do not send edited videos. Submit raw videos only, without any form of editing.

Two cameras can be used, but both videos must be sent separately as raw files, with no editing.

 7. Introduction rule

Before every performance video, introduce yourself clearly, stating your full name, age, and state, plus the title of the hymn or piece.

 8. Instructions, privacy, and presentation

Do not start anything until you are told to do so. Wait for instructions before doing anything, as mistakes may lead to disqualification.

Do not post your competition videos anywhere else. If your video is seen anywhere else, it becomes invalid.

Your video should show only you. Seeing other people in your videos makes it invalid, except when you are asked to accompany a choir or a group of singers.

Make sure you look presentable in your videos. Always smile throughout your videos and maintain composure, even if you make minor errors while performing.

 9. Selection process

All valid entries will be reviewed during screening. The first 20 best entries will be selected. The championship stage will produce the top 3 winners.

 10. Support

For enquiries, WhatsApp +2348138874234.

If you know a talented young organist, your child, your student, or a promising musician in your church, this is the moment to encourage them.

Follow the registration link below and complete the form to participate.

https://forms.office.com/r/3s19MmR740