all photos © Emma Brown
The winners of the 2019 Kathleen Ferrier Awards are:
Benson Wilson, Baritone (1st Prize) Theodore Platt, Baritone (2nd Prize) Ema Nikolovska, Mezzo-Soprano (Ferrier Loveday Song Prize) Ella O’Neill and William Green, piano (Help Musicians UK Accompanist’s Prize)
After performing to a full house at Wigmore Hall on 26th April, Baritone BENSON WILSON was awarded 1st Prize in the 2019 Kathleen Ferrier Competition. 28-year old Benson, New Zealand-born of Samoan heritage, is currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama and will take part in the Salzburg Festival Young Singers Project this summer. He took the prize with a programme that included operatic arias by Wagner and Verdi as well as songs by Butterworth and Tchaikovsky.
2nd Prize went to 24-year old British-Russian Baritone THEODORE PLATT who studies at the Royal College of Music Opera Studio. Theodore offered a programme of arias and songs by Rachmaninov, Mozart, Duparc, Wagner, Sibelius and Britten.
The Ferrier Loveday Song Prize was awarded to 25-year old Mezzo-Soprano EMA NIKOLOVSKA. Of Canadian and Macedonian nationality, Ema won the Song Prize for her rendition of Twilight by Medtner.
The Help Musicians UK Accompanist’s Prize acknowledges the crucial role of pianists in this Competition. This year’s prize was awarded jointly to ELLA O’NEILL (24) and WILLIAM GREEN (27). Ella accompanied Adam Maxey (a finalist) and William accompanied Adam Temple-Smith (a semi-finalist) during the competition.