The previous winners were mezzo-soprano Anna Starushkevych (2013), sopranoGalina Averina (2015) and mezzo-soprano Emma Stannard (2017). In 2017 an Accompanists’ Prize was introduced, and the first winner was Keval Shah. Bampton Classical Opera has a reputation for its commitment to young talent and a number of singers who have appeared on the Bampton stage have gone on to work with national companies such as The Royal Opera, English National Opera and Opera North.

The first round of the Bampton Classical Opera Young Singers’ Competition 2019 (closed sessions) will take place on 5 and 6 October in London. The public final will take place in the Holywell Music Room, Oxford, on Sunday 17 November at 6pm. This is always an entertaining and thrilling event, and a chance to hear some remarkable performances. Judges for the competition include two internationally renowned British singers: tenor Bonaventura Bottone and mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby. Bampton is delighted to announce they are joined this year by the esteemed accompanist and conductor Phillip Thomas, who was a vocal coach and répétiteur at English National Opera, and the official accompanist to the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World for many years.

There will be a fund-raising reception for this year’s Young Singers’ Competition on 26 March at the Caledonian Club, Halkin Street, London SW1 . Bampton Classical Opera is honoured that Benjamin Hulett, one of the first young singers to perform with the Company, who now has an international career at the highest level, will launch this year’s competition, talk about his career and give a short recital. He will also be commemorating his 20th year as a professional performer. Benjamin first performed for the Company in 2000 in Stephen Storace’s Comedy of Errors, which is very apt as this year Bampton is staging Storace’s other Viennese opera Bride and Gloom. Benjamin commented: “ Bampton Classical Opera is a brilliant company who work with a lot of rising stars, often spotting them before anyone else, and their performances are excellent .”

Tickets, including champagne, canapés and a ticket to the November final are £60 and will provide all-important support to the competition. For tickets to the fund-raising reception on 26 March contact Anthony Hall, Administrator, Bampton Classical Opera ( anthony@bamptonopera.org)

Competitors for the Young Singers’ Competition 2019 can apply by downloading an application form and information document from the company’s website - www.bamptonopera.org or on request by emailing ysc@bamptonopera.org. Applications open on 1 March, 2019 and close on 31 July.

First (Closed) Round:
Venue: tbc, London
Date: Saturday 5 and/or Sunday 6 October

Final (Public) Round :
Venue: Holywell Music Room, Oxford
Date/Time: Sunday 17 November, 6pm

First prize £1,500 - Second prize £600
There will also be a £500 Accompanists’ Prize.

Previous Winners and Runners-up :
2013
Winner: Anna Starushkevych (mezzo-soprano)
Runner-up: Rosalind Coad (soprano)

2015
Winner: Galina Averina (soprano)
Runner-up: Céline Forrest (soprano)

2017
Winner: Emma Stannard (mezzo-soprano)
Runner-up: Wagner Moreira (tenor)
Accompanists’ Prize: Keval Shah