Pianist Mike Thompson is the Newbury Older Musician of the Year 2009. He received the NOMY award at the end of an enjoyable final competition at the Newbury Corn Exchange on June 7. Organised and run by Southern Sinfonia and funded by Greenham Common Arts, the competition this year featured three pianists and a treble recorder player.

Since retiring Mike has earned his ARCM Performer's Diploma and has been an enthusiastic follower of the stride piano styles of jazz musicians like Fats Waller. For the NOMY event Mike chose to play Liszt's Gnomenreigen and then revealed his love for jazz by playing George Gershwin's Liza.

The reward for his success was a £1,000 first prize and the chance to play with the Sinfonia at a future concert. The trophy, designed and crafted by David Duke, was presented to Mike by the previous NOMY winner, Brenda Palmer. Judging this year's competition were Jill White, Nick Giles and Sally Goodworth. Chris de Souza was the presenter.

The other finalists were Farida Calvertz-Jons (piano), Ernest Woolford (piano) and Antoinette King (treble recorder).

Participants in the 2009 Newbury Older Musician of the Year event gather around the piano at the Newbury Corn Exchange. On stool: last time winner of NOMY Brenda Palmer with NOMY winner Mike Thomson.
L to r: Farida Calvertz-Jons, Ernest Woolford, Antoinette King, Trevor Defford (accompanist), judges Jill White, Nick Giles, Sally Goodworth and presenter Chris de Souza.