In the news... RCM Clean Sweep at Kathleen Ferrier Awards All major prizes at the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Awards have been won by current students or recent graduates of the Royal College of Music. RCM soprano Gemma Lois Summerfield was named winner of the prestigious competition’s First Prize and Song Prize. In the final, which took place on Friday 24 April at London’s Wigmore Hall, Gemma gave an outstanding performance of songs by Sibelius, Mendelssohn, Duparc and Copland as well as an aria from Nicolai’s The Merry Wives of Windsor, accompanied by RCM alumnus Sebastian Wybrew.
Recent RCM graduate soprano Soraya Mafi won Second Prize, while the Accompanist’s Award went to her performance partner Ian Tindale, a recent RCM Junior Fellow. In addition, RCM countertenor Timothy Morgan was presented with the Junior Ferrier Prize Bursary he won earlier this year.
RCM Unveils Transformative Development Plans
The Kathleen Ferrier Memorial Scholarship Fund’s annual competition offers the chance for young professional singers to compete for cash prizes and instant international recognition. The First Prize of £12,500, Second Prize of £6,000 and Song Prize of £5,000 are sponsored in perpetuity by Mark and Liza Loveday, and the Accompanist’s Award is provided by Help Musicians UK in memory of Arthur and Gwyneth Harrison.
Artist impression
Photo © Robert Piwko reproduced by kind permission of the Ferrier Awards
On 15 April, the Royal College of Music announced plans to transform its building in the heart of London’s South Kensington. The RCM site will be reimagined by renowned architect John Simpson and planning permission is being sought for a twoyear programme of works to start in 2016.
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The £25 million redevelopment is a significant investment in professional music education in the UK and the reconfiguration of the RCM will benefit both students and visitors to the iconic building. HRH The Prince of Wales has agreed to be Patron of the RCM’s ‘More Music’ campaign to fund the building development.
Left to right: Gemma Lois Summerfield, Ian Tindale and Soraya Mafi
RCM Director Professor Colin Lawson explains how the new building will transform both the student and visitor experience on page 12. Further information can be found at www.rcm.ac.uk/moremusic