New Voices Singing Competition under way for Northern Aldborough Festival
Opera and concert singers all over the UK are filing their applications to the New Voices Singing Competition, where the cream of vocal classical talent heads North.
The shortlisted candidates will perform at this year’s Northern Aldborough Festival at the live semi-finals, then the final, both in front of a world-class judging panel.
It’s a chance to catch the ethereal, moving, beautiful voices destined to take centre stage.
The inaugural competition winner, soprano Lea Shaw, was subsequently picked as a BBC’s Music Magazine Rising Star and mezzo-soprano Judith Le Breuilly, with George Ireland on piano, performed live on BBC Radio 3’s In Tune after taking the crown.
This year’s judging panel features the conductor and former musical director of Opera North Paul Daniel, soprano Carolyn Sampson, accompanist Anna Tilbrook, alongside Robert Ogden - artistic director of the Northern Aldborough Festival and chief executive of the Temple Music Foundation plus Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, chair of the festival and High Sheriff of North Yorkshire.
The idea for the competition began four years ago, when long-standing sponsors requested that theirdonation go directly to benefiting young performers. They sat down to explore options with festival director Robert Ogden and an idea was born. As a former opera singer during the 1990s and early 2000s, Robert understands how much more challenging it has become to embark upon a career in classical performance today.
“We launched the competition in a landscape of funding cuts,” he said.
"Music continues to be under siege. It’s perhaps harder than ever for talent, particularly from under-privileged backgrounds, to pursue a career in the industry.
“This competition is designed to support young talent and offer a level playing field. We’re proud to offer substantial cash prizes and performance opportunities and to offer semi-finalists a subsidy to cover their travel expenses to take part.”
Alongside a prize pot of £7,000, the winners receive paid performance opportunities at Northern Aldborough Festival, Leeds Lieder and Harrogate International Festivals.
Momentum is building as some of the UK’s finest young musical talents prepare to raise the roof of Aldborough’s beautiful village church. With its intimate atmosphere and remarkable acoustics, it promises to be an unforgettable evening.
Tickets for the semi-finals and final go on sale from Saturday March 28 at: https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/