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The Dorothy Richardson English Song Prize 2024

Full details of the 2025 competition will be announced late summer.
Prelims 16th November Taggs Yard, Barnes.
Finals Tonbridge School 23rd November.

Entrants are encouraged to explore the vast wealth of material from five hundred years of song writing, prose and poetry, of writers and composers world-wide who employ the English language.

INTRODUCTION

The 2024 Competition final was held on Sunday, November 24th from 2.00pm in the Recital Hall of Tonbridge School, Kent.


The preliminary round took place on Sunday, November 17th at Taggs Yard, Barnes during the day.


 

1st Prize: Archie Inns

2nd Prize: Cuán Durkin

3rd Prize: Josephine Shaw 

 

Joint accompanist winners :

Thomas Luke 

Alfred  Fardell

 

Our thanks to the judges:

 

For the final:

Richard Suart, Julia Dewhurst, Marilyn Cutts, Stephen Gutman, Lynda Morgan

 

For the preliminary round: 

Patricia Williams,

Adrian Thompson

Una McMahon

 

 

Our thanks to Michael and Judith Hildesley for loaning their facilities at Taggs Yard

 

Thanks also to the staff of Tonbridge School

 

The co-ordinator is Brian Parsons

 

PROSPECTUS

Purpose:

The purpose of the DOROTHY RICHARDSON ENGLISH SONG PRIZE in accordance with the general aims of the AESS, is “to encourage the communication of English words, in singing and in speech, with clarity, understanding and imagination”.


Requirement:

Competitors are asked to present and sing a themed recital of classical ‘Art Songs’ and the spoken word, with original English texts. (N.B.’Art Songs’ does NOT include opera, oratorio, operetta or musical theatre). The integrated programme may include spoken links and must contain poetry and/ or prose. The programme should not exceed 20 minutes in total. Candidates should provide their own accompanist.


The entire programme must be delivered from memory in both rounds.

The judges will give equal emphasis to the spoken and sung elements of the programme.


Eligibility:

The competition is open to young singers aged 18 to 23 on or before November 24th 2024.


Age Limit:

Singers, together with pianists eligible for the accompanists’ prize, should be in the above age-range on or before the date of the final.


Prizes:

First Prize – £1,000 Second Prize – £600 Third Prize – £400 Accompanists’ Prize – £500



THE COMPETITION

The competition will be in two stages.


Stage One:

There will be a preliminary session at Taggs Yard, Barnes in London, on November 17th. The panel of judges will be drawn from members of the Association, who have not themselves submitted candidates. They will select a maximum of 6 competitors for the final.


Stage Two:

The final will be held at Tonbridge School in Kent from 2.00pm on the afternoon of Sunday, November 24th 2024.


Venue:

The Recital Room


Entry:

A nominal, non-refundable, entry fee of £20.00 is charged to cover administrative expenses. Entries must be made on the entry forms below and must be received no later than Saturday, 9th November 2024. If a candidate’s singing teacher is a member of the AESS, they can have a 50% reduction of the entry fee.


All enquiries should be directed to the competition co-ordinator, Brian Parsons; bgparsons@aol.com


Previous Prize Winners




The 2023 Programme





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