Success for five RCM graduates at Wigmore Hall

Friday 8 September 2017

The Royal College of Music is thrilled to announce that RCM graduate Julien van Mellaerts has been awarded First Prize in the Wigmore Hall / Kohn Foundation International Song Competition and four fellow alumni have been recognised.

Julien graduated from the RCM International Opera School this year, having studied with Russell Smythe as a Fishmongers Company Scholar, supported by a Thomas Weinberger Award. Julien’s talent as a baritone was recognised when he won First Prize in the prestigious Ferrier Award in May; on both occasions he was accompanied by fellow RCM graduate, Gamal Khamis.

Julien was not the only RCM graduate to enjoy success at Wigmore Hall this year. Ian Tindale won the Pianist’s Prize, whilst the Jean Meikle Prize for a Duo was awarded to soprano Gemma Summerfield and pianist Sebastian Wybrew.

Having completed the Master of Performance course at the RCM and been a Junior Fellow in Accompaniment, Ian Tindale won the Accompanist’s Prize in the prestigious Royal Over-Seas League Music Competition in 2015. Gemma Summerfield, who studied with Rosa Mannion and Simon Lepper at the RCM, was named the winner of both the First Prize and Song Prize at the Ferrier Award in 2015.

The Wigmore Hall / Kohn Foundation International Song Competition celebrates the art of the song recital. Since its foundation in 1997, the competition has grown in status and prestige, and continues to attract singers and pianists from around the world, aged 33 or under, who are keen to embark on significant recital careers.

The RCM is delighted that five alumni have been recognised in this internationally renowned competition, particularly the partnerships they formed at the Royal College of Music which continue to prove extremely successful.

A video recording of the Final of the Wigmore Hall / Kohn Foundation International Song Competition is available to watch on the Wigmore Hall website.