Successes at the English Song Competition

Thursday 23 May 2013

RCM pianist Jennifer Hughes and RCM singer Bradley Travis have both enjoyed success at the Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition 2013.

RCM Junior Fellow Jennifer Hughes, who recently performed in the presence of HRH The Prince of Wales at the RCM's annual President's Visit, was awarded the Pianist's prize of £1,000. Bass baritone Bradley Travis, whom Jennifer accompanied in the competition, won the third prize, also of £1,000.

The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition is presented by the Association of English Singers and Speakers (AESS), a charity with the core aim ‘to encourage the communication of English words, in singing and speech, with clarity, understanding and imagination'.

The competition final took place at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama on 10 May as the climax to a day celebrating the Association's centenary. Jennifer and Bradley performed a programme employing both speech and song elements in front of a panel of judges including Rosamund Shelley and Professor Robert Saxton, and were awarded their prizes by actress and singer Patricia Routledge, CBE.

RCM soprano Sinead O'Kelly and pianist Ian Tindale also performed on the day, having been invited to do so following their wins in the AESS Courtney Kenny Award competition in March.