The final will be held at the Wigmore Hall, Thursday 14 November, 1-4pm. Adjudicated by Sir John Tomlinson, Emma Bell, Michael Dussek and Chaired by Jackdaws Artistic Director Saffron van Zwanenberg.
Masterful Recital from Philip Fowke
On
Friday 13 September, pianist Philip Fowke gave a 45 minute recital in the Lehane-Wishart Studio at Jackdaws in Great Elm, which held the audience entranced.
After taking to the Steinway, Philip joked that he had not had a chance to warm up, and would the audience mind if he did so now? Unsure of what to expect – perhaps scales, arpeggios, maybe some Hanon exercises? – there was a pleasant sigh of recognition as Philip began and the audience were treated to an off-programme performance of Grieg’s Melodie, from the op. 47 Lyric Pieces. The studio was instantly filled with the light, repeated-chords and melancholy melody floating above. A delightful introduction to a programme of larger works.
The programme as advertised opened with the third and central movement of Robert Schumann’s Piano Sonata no. 3, a set of variations on a theme by his wife Clara. The day had special significance, being the 200th anniversary of Clara Schumann’s birth, and at a performance to celebrate the opening of a studio whose existence owed great debt to another musical husband and wife pair – mezzo-soprano Maureen Lehane and composer Peter Wishart.
What followed the was another highly-virtuosic compositon, Busoni’s Kammer-Fantasie on Bizet’s Carmen, delivered with effortless panache and style, glittering as the sun shone on the rose garden in the background behind the piano.
Philip Fowke’s impressive programme was brought to a rousing conclusion with the final work, Chopin’s Heroic Polonaise in A flat major. The audience made quite sure Philip was aware of their gratitude with rapturous applause for his masterful programme.
Join us for our next Open Fridays lunchtime concert at 12:15pm on Friday 20 September, when Artistic Director Saffron van Zwanenberg will be joined by Baritone Owain Browne for a recital of favourite songs and arias accompanied by long-standing Jackdaws accompanist Colin Hunt.
The Winners of the 2018 Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards
Following a close final at the Wigmore Hall this afternoon, Jackdaws are delighted to announce the winners of the 26th Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards:
First Prize
James Atkinson, Baritone
Second Prize
Charlotte Bowden, Soprano
Third Prize
Verity Wingate, Soprano
Accompanist Prize
Michael Pandya, playing for Charlotte Bowden
Audience Prize
Charlotte Bowden, Soprano
The judges – Amanda Roocroft, Patricia Bardon, Alisdair Hogarth and Saffron van Zwanenberg – said this has been the finest year for interpretations of Peter Wishart’s music.
All finalists were required to present a programme consisting of four items, two own choice items in addition to one song by each of the two set composers; Handel, of whose music Maureen Lehane was a renowned interpreter, and Peter Wishart, her late husband in whose memory the awards were founded.
The Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards are possible because of supported from The Rosemary Budgen Charitable Trust, AIMS, Cooper Hall Emerging Artists, and Geoffrey & Margaret Batten. The Audience Prize was supported by the Jackdaws Trustees.
Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards 2016: Finalists Announced
Following two days of auditions on the 8th and 9th October, we present, with great excitement, the singers competing in the iconic Wigmore Hall at the finals of the Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards 2016:
David Ireland, Bass-Baritone accompanied by Ed Whitehead
Claire Barnett Jones, Mezzo-Soprano accompanied by Dylan Perez
Sung Kyu Choi, Baritone accompanied by Seungwon Lee
Nardus Williams, Soprano accompanied by Dylan Perez
Sam Carl, Bass accompanied by Leo Nicholson
Catriona Hewitson, Soprano accompanied by Paul McKenzie
Malachy Frame, Baritone accompanied by Liam Crangle
Holly Marie Bingham, Mezzo-Soprano accompanied by Kaoru Wada
The winner will be decided by the panel of four judges:
Rosemary Joshua
Joan Rodgers
Julian Jacobson
chaired by Saffron van Zwanenberg
All finalists are required to present a programme consisting of four items. There are two set composers; Handel, of whose music Maureen Lehane was a renowned interpreter, and Peter Wishart, her late husband in whose memory the awards were started.
The 2016 Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards are possible because of the generous support from The Mercers’ Company, The Rosemary Budgen Charitable Trust, Cooper Hall Emerging Artists, Frome Voices and the Jackdaws Trustees.
The final takes place on Friday 28 October at 1pm, Wigmore Hall. We hope to see you there.