HCO Singer of the Year Competition 2024, semi-finals and finals
2 Nov, St Swithun’s School, Winchester
Last weekend saw the semi-finals and finals of the seventh HCO Singer of the Year Competition, run for the third consecutive year in collaboration with The Grange Festival. Staged at St Swithun’s School, Winchester, ten semi-finalists competed for over £6000 in prizes, with the top prize also carrying the offer of a contract with The Grange Festival for 2025, subject to a suitable standard being reached.
Michael Chance CBE chaired the judging panel, on which he was joined by Rosalind Plowright OBE, British Mezzo soprano, and James Black, Director of James Black Management. The pianists for the day were Hamish Brown and Chad Vindin.
Prize-winners:
- Nigel Beale Grange Festival First Prize- £2000
and Anthony Lowrey Audience Prize – £500
Ellen Pearson, mezzo soprano
- Roger Higgins Second Prize – £1500
and Wendy Blamire Award* – £300
Stephen Whitford, baritone - Sarah Harrison Prize – £1000
Lily Mo Browne, mezzo soprano - Rosalind Armstrong Prize- £750
Jack Sandison, bass baritone
*The Wendy Blamire Award is given for outstanding linguistic and artistic commitment to text in at least two European languages other than English.
From 84 entrants aged 20-29 years, ten semi-finalists had been selected through online submissions to perform before the judges and a public audience. ‘This year the overall standard of the entries was extremely high,’ said Lynton Atkinson, Artistic Director of Hurn Court Opera, ‘making it challenging to reduce the number to ten for the semi-final round. The first-round judges were looking for artistry in appropriate repertoire for the individual voices, as well as for the age of the participants.’
From the semi-finalists’ performances, described by Michael Chance as ‘astonishingly convincing’, four finalists were selected. Each performed a 20-minute programme. Apart from limiting repetition between rounds, the singer had considerable freedom in their choice of repertoire, provided Competition criteria were met.
‘We have included singing in English in the criteria to really assess the competitor’s ability to communicate directly with the audience,’ explained Lynton. ‘And the requirement to perform song as well as operatic repertoire allows each singer to display their imagination, linguistic, dramatic and artistic ability in a short time, and of course compensates for the lack of repertoire for certain categories of voice in certain languages.’
Opening the final adjudication, Michael Chance thanked all the artists for a ‘deeply affecting afternoon’ made up of ‘beautiful performances’, adding ‘This was proper music making. You have all given us something today that I have not heard so much in recent times – you have all drawn us into a rich, imaginative world without overdoing it and without over-singing, which is increasingly rare, I think. You have done something remarkable there. You have shown us what the vocal art is really about. And you are incredibly courageous to do so. We thank you for that.’
James Black added ‘My Father once told me that “singing is a more beautiful way of talking”. You showed us this today.’ James continued ‘I was glad that there was such an emphasis on song in your repertoire, and particularly song in the vernacular, which I think is really important. That ability to capture the moment. And the fact that all of you… were willing to use colour and text, so that however beautiful your singing and however magnificent the playing…, we were drawn into these different worlds referred to by Michael. And I think this is the effect on people this art form can have and all of you are to be very seriously applauded, at such an early stage on your careers, for having achieved this. You weren’t afraid to make your own choices and display them.’
Inaugurated in 2018, the HCO Singer of the Year Competition provides an important platform for young vocal talent. Selected prize-winners perform in recital and opera with Hurn Court Opera, and all entrants may be considered for future opportunities.
‘As a company we attach huge importance to the singer as imaginative artist and this approach was mirrored by our three judges,’ said Lynton Atkinson.‘ We were thrilled that the day resulted in such worthy winners.
‘We and the singers were especially lucky this year to have two truly exceptional pianists in Hamish Brown and Chad Vindin,’ he added. ‘And we are immensely grateful to the donors of our competition prizes: Nigel Beale; Anthony Lowrey; Roger Higgins; Judy and Richard Haes; Rosalind Armstrong and Wendy Blamire – all of whom were present throughout the day.’
For more details, go to www.hurncourtopera.org
About Hurn Court Opera
Founded in August 2017 under the leadership of Lynton Atkinson, tenor, conductor and Vocal Professor at Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance in London, HCO exists to provide high-quality, paid performance opportunities to emerging young singers.
An exciting programme of recitals, opera, masterclasses and an annual national singing competition give artists varied performance platforms and exposure to the guidance of people at the top of the profession.
For audiences in Dorset, Hampshire and Wiltshire, HCO offers chances to experience the next generation of vocal stars supported by highly skilled instrumentalists and ensembles.
Competition semi-finalists 2024
Ana-Carmen Balestra (soprano)
Lily Mo Browne (mezzo- soprano)
Katie Carmichael (soprano)
Olivia Carrell (soprano)
William Diggle (tenor)
Angelina Dorlin-Barlow (mezzo-soprano)
Ash Howard (mezzo-soprano)
Ellen Pearson (mezzo-soprano)
Jack Sandison (bass-baritone)
Stephen Whitford (baritone)
Resources:
Press contacts
Hurn Court Opera – Rosie Clay, rosie.clay@hurncourtopera.org
Photo:
Finalists and pianists, left to right Ellen Pearson, Lily Mo Browne, Jack Sandison, Stephen Whitford, Chad Vindiin (pianist) and Hamish Brown (pianist)