Prize final public concert, Saturday 8th November, Dora Stoutzker Hall, RWCMD
Celebrating the diverse world of storytelling through song, the Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize, in partnership with the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, champions talented new voices, and showcases the potential of powerful expression through different languages.
Competing for a £15,000 prize nominated undergraduate singers from the UK’s major music schools will each perform a programme of three pieces, an art song of their choice, a song that celebrates their own language and culture, and a set Welsh song, Pan ddaw'r nos by Meirion Williams.
Coming from a nation renowned for its love of singing, Bryn is passionate about his cultural heritage, and particularly Welsh Song or Caneuon Cymraeg. Having won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize in 1989, followed by his acclaimed career as an opera singer, it’s particularly important that this prize in his name focuses on the artistry that song requires.
Bringing together a prestigious international panel of singing and opera specialists, Head Judge Bryn will be joined by German classical music producer Ute Fesquet, formerly at Deutsche Grammophon, John Fisher, former Director of Music Administration at the Metropolitan Opera and former Artistic Director of WNO, Austrian mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager, and international operatic conductor and Conductor Laureate of Welsh National Opera Carlo Rizzi.
There will also be masterclasses with Soprano Rebecca Evans CBE, and Richard Hetherington, Head of Music at The Royal Opera House, and a Q&A session with Soprano April Koyejo-Audiger and young Welsh Tenor Ryan Vaughan Davies who recently represented his country in the Cardiff Singer of the World gala concert.
The finalists are young singers from the UK’s major music schools, completing their undergraduate degree studies and moving towards the important masters training that will set them on their paths to professional careers.
‘You cannot imagine how thrilled I am to have this incredible song prize at the Royal Welsh College as part of our new fund, Cronfa Syr Bryn Terfel. When my singing changed from being an enjoyable hobby to something more serious, my whole perspective changed in a twinkling of an eye. I threw myself into learning more and more about the Welsh song tradition, and performing and recording these songs became a passion.
This passion then opened the doors to the German Lied, the French Chanson, and the English song, culminating in that wonderful 1989 Cardiff Singer of the World where I was fortunate enough to be awarded the Song Prize.
One inspiring Welsh song for all the competitors will be an integral part of this new song competition - and who knows, it might be the catalyst for students to discover a passion for these songs, and for singing in yet another language, Welsh - another memorable feather in their artistic journey.
I am thrilled to think that I am, at last, able to give something back. Hard work, dedication and excellence will still be the students’ end goal, but one of them will win this meaningful award that will help them develop their dreams and aspirations even further in a time of terrible uncertainty in the arts.
Good luck to all the competitors and a big chapeau to the ever-developing Cronfa. Let’s make this a great success now and to the future.’
Sir Bryn Terfel
RWCMD Director of Music Tim Rhys-Evans:
‘Choosing a life in the arts is never the easiest path, so it’s essential that we encourage future generations of talented young artists to join us - to innovate, to create exceptional work, and to help shape an industry that continues to make a positive impact.
As Wales’s national conservatoire, we’re passionate about ensuring that young people, from across Wales, the UK, and around the world, discover the cultural richness this country and the College have to offer. Alongside Bryn, celebrating, championing, and sharing the Welsh language and culture is central to that mission.
We’re thrilled and inspired to be collaborating with him, supporting projects like the Song Prize, to bring his vision alive, and together through the Cronfa Foundation to give something back to Cymru.’
The final on Saturday 8th November is preceded by a fully-funded three-day residency at the College, which will include a lecture from the Archdruid, poet and linguist, Mererid Hopwood, movement workshops, Welsh language coaching with Bryn himself, individual time with mentors, and masterclasses.
Caradog Williams and Iwan Teifion Davies will be the pianists, guiding, and performing with, the young singers as they bring these songs to life.