Laura Perešivana wins Prince’s prize

Latvian soprano Laura Perešivana has been announced as this year’s winner of the Prince’s Prize. Perešivana receives an award of £10,000 and a silver medal. Saxophonist Manu Brazo also won the Audience Prize (£500).

Having made her debut covering Lauretta Gianni Schicchi at the Latvian National Opera at the age of 19, Perešivana recently graduated from the Guildhall School of Music & Drama’s Opera Course. Her accolades include Second Prize at the Kathleen Ferrier Awards 2021 and Extraordinary Prize at the 54th Tenor Vinas International Singing Contest. She was a Young Artist at the National Opera Studio and is a City Music Foundation Artist.

Established in 2004 by the Musician’s Company, the prize aims to recognise ‘the most promising young instrumentalist or singer from the Company’s award winners’ of that year. Recent winners can be found here.

Applications are received annually from the current winners of certain Company prizes and scholarships. Perešivana qualified for the award because she received Musicians’ Company Saloman Seelig Award in 2021. 

Perešivana was chosen by a judging panel including conductor Alice Farnham, accompanist and conductor Willian Vann and Scott Cooper, director of artistic administration at the Grange Festival. The first round was judged using recordings submitted by the applicants, with finalists then competing in person at the Prince’s Prize concert held at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama.

With a history of over 500 years, the Musicians’ Company is one of the oldest charitable companies in the City of London, aiming to support all aspects of the music industry. You can find out more about the Musicians’ Company here.