Three Purcell School pupils have reached the category finals of BBC Young Musician, the UK’s leading contest for young classical musicians.

After an audition process, judges have announced five finalists for each of its categories - Strings, Keyboard, Woodwind, Brass and Percussion. Over 450 entries were received for the contest from musicians aged between eight and 18-years-old.

Juliana Myslov and Martin Bartlett, who are both 17 are through on the harp and piano and 14-year-old Isobel Daws is through on the trombone.

Purcell alumnus and flautist, Daniel Shao, 18, who took up a place at Oxford in September 2013, has also reached the category finals of the woodwind stage.

Kerry Clark, competition manager said: "The category finalists show a remarkable level and breadth of talent.

"We’re looking forward to continuing to work with these outstanding young musicians over the coming months and watching their progress through to the 2014 final."

The category finals will take place on March 3 to 7 in the Dora Stoutzker Hall, Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama, Cardiff.

The semi-final follows on March 9, before the final May18 at Usher Hall in Edinburgh. BBC Young Musician will be broadcast extensively on BBC Four and BBC Radio 3.

Previous Purcell School winners of this prestigious competition are oboist Nicholas Daniel and pianist Lara Melda.

This year, for the first time, BBC Young Musician have a Jazz Award, comprising two audition stages followed by a Final on March 8, 2014, to be held at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. The Jazz Award finalists will be announced in early February. Five Purcell School pupils have reached the second audition stage.

The Purcell School is a boarding and day school in Bushey, educating 170 talented musicians aged from 9 to 18. It is the oldest specialist music school in the UK and can boast many former pupils who are now famous musicians.