The competition offers three prizes, a 1st prize of £12,500, a 2nd prize of £6,000 and a Song Prize of £5,000, sponsored in perpetuity by Mark & Liza Loveday. There is also an Accompanist’s Award provided by the Help Musicians UK in memory of Arthur & Gwyneth Harrison. The competition is open to singers of any nationality who have completed at least one year of study in the UK or Eire; they must be aged 28 or under at the time of the final audition. Pianists competition for the accompanist’s award must also be 28 or under.
In 2018 the winner are:
William Thomas, bass (1st Prize)
Josephine Goddard, soprano (2nd Prize)
Catriona Hewitson, soprano (Ferrier Loveday Song Prize)
Michael Pandya, piano (Accompanist’s Prize)
23 year old William Thomas, is the youngest competitor to reach the final rounds, is currently studying on the Masters Programme at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and will continue his studies on the prestigious Opera Course in September. His finals programme included an operatic aria by Rossini as well as works by Rachmaninov, Mussorgsky, Poulenc and Katie Moss.
