New Voices Competition reveals winner

Florence Lockheart
Tuesday, June 25, 2024

Having joined the semi-finalists after another competitor had to drop out, Judith Le Breuilly was chosen as the winner of Northern Aldborough Festival’s singing competition

(Left to right) Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, Robert Ogden, Edward Gardner OBE, Sholto Kynoch, Judith le Breuilly, George Ireland, Sir John Tomlinson, Clara Orif and Jack Redman. (Image courtesy of Northern Aldborough Festival)
(Left to right) Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred, Robert Ogden, Edward Gardner OBE, Sholto Kynoch, Judith le Breuilly, George Ireland, Sir John Tomlinson, Clara Orif and Jack Redman. (Image courtesy of Northern Aldborough Festival)

Northern Aldborough Festival’s New Voices Singing Competition has revealed that mezzo-soprano Judith Le Breuilly has won its second iteration alongside pianist George Ireland. Judith was presented with the award last week by new Opera North general director Laura Canning.

Le Breuilly wins the competition’s top award, the Seastock Trust Prize, taking home a £5,000 cash prize, alongside a recital spot at the 2025 Northern Aldborough Festival. The second prize of £1,500 went to soprano, Clara Orif and pianist Jack Redman, who also won the £500 audience prize.

Northern Aldborough Festival director Robert Ogden said: ‘We are absolutely thrilled for Judith and George. Their final programme was beautifully judged, and ideally suited Judith's rich voice, clear diction, and rock-solid technique. It is all the more remarkable that this level of performance was achieved on a minimum of rehearsal. The high quality of entrants for the competition this year was truly astounding.’

Le Breuilly was a late addition to the semi-finalists, after another semi-finalist was forced to drop out due to a family bereavement. With just 24 hours' notice, she found a pianist, George Ireland, with whom she had never worked previously, and impressed a judging panel including conductor Edward Gardner OBE, bass and Royal Northern College of Music president Sir John Tomlinson CBE, and pianist Sholto Kynoch.

The Birmingham-born singer is a graduate of the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Royal College of Music, and the National Opera Studio. She was recently a finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier Awards, and was a Garsington Alvarez Young Artist for the 2022 season.

Now in its second year, the New Voices Competition showcases UK classical vocalists aged 18 to 32. Its inaugural winner, mezzo soprano Lea Shaw, went on to be picked as a BBC Music Magazine Rising Star.