It was with a sensational performance of the first movement of Brahms's Symphony No 2 and Nielsen's Dance of the Cockerel that Samuel Lee triumphed at this year's Malko Competition for Young Conductors. But perhaps the most memorable music-making of Lee's competition was in Round 3 where he delivered a quite stunning account of Ravel's La valse – astonishingly, without rehearsal – with the Danish National Symphony Orchestra.

Lee's competition began with Haydn's Symphony No 49, in which he opted to include the harpsichord, something he admitted was a risk as the harpsichord part is not notated in the score. But it was a risk that paid off handsomely, and revealed a conductor who was more than happy to let the musicians play and express themselves – a true collaborator.

Watch Samuel Lee's journey to the final:

The two other finalists this year were Dong Chao and Ana Maria Patiño-Osorio and the Chairman of the Jury was Fabio Luisi. The entire competition was broadcast live, with engaging and insightful commentary by Gramophone contributor Andrew Mellor. 

Watch Samuel Lee's Final round performances:

Tradition dictates that the winner of the Malko competition conducts – from sight – Hans Christian Lumbye Champagne Galop, a tradition of which Samuel was apparently completely unaware. But after a little persuasion from Fabio Luisi, he took to the podium one final, joyful time.

Champagne Galop: