One of the wonderful things about attending the Oxford Music Festival concert on a regular basis is seeing young talent gradually blossoming. Take Yaolin Zheng, for instance - a remarkable young pianist who caught my attention at the very first Festival concert I attended, when she was nine-years-old. Now 14, she continues to impress with playing that is fluent, mature and technically assured. Many of the concerts I've attended have been dominated by the talented Ng family, which this year was represented by young Michael Ng, who gained the highest marks in the Under-12 piano classes, and enchanted Saturday's audience with a spirited and highly competent rendition of A.Rowley's Humoresque. The cheeky flourish at the end seemed to put a smile on everyone's face.

It is talents such as these that the Oxford Music Festival has been successfully nurturing for over 30 years, and every time I attend the festival concert - a showcase for the competitors who have gained the highest marks in their categories - I am struck anew by the talent, enthusiasm and commitment on display.

This year, as always, there were so many memorable performances that it seems unfair to single any out. But I was particularly impressed with the deft fingering and rich tones produced by Stephane Crayton in V.Monti's Czárdas, who gained the highest marks in all the string classes. He is pictured receiving his prize from the Sheriff of Oxford, Mary Clarkson.

Other memorable performances came from David Mears, who played the slow movement from Mozart's Clarinet Quintet with purity and sensitivity; Fatima Laham, who gave an accurate performance of Sammartini's Concerto in F for descant recorder; and Joseph Woodward, who revealed a deep, mature voice for Nobody Knows the Trouble I've Seen.

Among the older competitors, highlights included the rich, well-trained voices of Tamara Migrina and Penny Grant, and the brilliance of pianist Abi Baker and clarinettist Michal Bredik.

The 2009 Festival starts on January 24, with the festival concert on February 7. For details, visit www.oxfordmusicfestival.org