Bampton Classical Opera reveals Young Singers’ Competition winners

Bampton Classical Opera has announced that the first prize of its 2023 Young Singers’ Competition has been awarded to mezzo-soprano Melissa Gregory. Welsh countertenor Kieron-Connor Valentine received the second prize, while the accompanists’ prize was awarded to Valentine’s accompanist, Brazilian pianist André Bertoncini.

Following a final round held on 25 November at the Leonard Wolfson Auditorium at Oxford’s Wolfson College, Gregory and Valentine were chosen from the competition’s eight finalists by a panel of adjudicators including tenor Bonaventura Bottone, mezzo-soprano Jean Rigby, and vocal coach, pianist and accompanist Ingrid Surgenor.

Bottone said: ‘The decision was unanimous to award the first prize to mezzo-soprano Melissa Gregory. Her programme was well balanced and was performed with poise. Melissa rounded off with Dopo Notte, from Ariodante. This was sung with great style and stunningly exact coloratura. Kieron-Connor Valentine, countertenor, was awarded second prize for his innovative programming. Starting with Britten's, 'I know a bank' which was sung flawlessly with text and music in perfect balance, a highlight of the programme. Kieron-Connor's vocal tone is exceptional.’

As part of her prize, Gregory receives a cash prize of £2,000, while Valentine is awarded £1,000 and Bertoncini takes home £600. A recent graduate of RNCM and Queensland Conservatorium, Gregory is a WNO Associate Artist for the 2023/24 season and a Samling Artist. She was a finalist in the 2022 International Handel Singing Competition and award winner in the 2021 JSRB Bel Canto Award.  

First launched in 2013 to celebrate Bampton Classical Opera’s 20^th birthday, the biennial competition aims to identify emerging singers in the UK. The accompanists’ prize is a newer competition category created in 2017.