British cellist encourages young musicians to “think outside the box” to succeed in a tough music industry.

Julian Lloyd Webber has warned musicians against entering competitions and eisteddfods, declaring them to be unfair and corrupt. The internationally renowned cellist made the allegations in the UK’s Daily Telegraph last week, ahead of a seminar that he will deliver on the issue at the University of Birmingham.

“Winning those competitions is nothing to do with ability,” he said. “Everyone knows it, but no one says it, because when you’re in the profession, you don’t. There are obvious exceptions, such as BBC Young Musician of the Year, which is not corrupt at all, but you have these competitions for violins, cello, piano and it’s all about who you studied with.”

While Lloyd Webber did not make any specific allegations, he said talent contests were far more unjust than industry awards. He also said that only “gullible” musicians enter such contests, and that they generally need to “know someone on the jury” to have any chance of success.

“These violin or piano competitions have specialist jurors, who are only violinists or pianists – they all know each other and know all their students...