University News Last updated 03 November 2023
Second-year Music students Hannah Devereux and Millie Royle reached the final of the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary competition recently. They both received the Collingworth Finalist prize of £100. Their accompanist, postgraduate student Beth Haughan, won the Accompanist’s Prize.
After completing the semi-final rounds, Hannah and Millie were elated to discover they had got through to the finals ahead of peers from other leading institutions, including Royal College of Music, Guildhall School of Music & Drama and Royal Conservatoire of Scotland. They competed in the final alongside a baritone from Royal Academy, a soprano from Royal Academy and a soprano from Royal Northern.
Hannah said: “We had really lovely interviews with the panel where they complimented our storytelling and felt like we were communicating our texts effectively.
“We had such a great time performing our final recitals and met some incredible people from the other conservatoires. We both felt very proud to be representing RBC and Birmingham.
“It’s been such invaluable experience, and we hope we did RBC proud.”
The Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary for Young Singers is open to vocal students just beginning their second year of study at any of the eight major Music Colleges in England, Scotland and Wales.
The Kathleen Ferrier Society Bursary is a registered charity and was established in 1996. Every year each conservatoire sends two singers who present a varied programme of no more than 18 minutes. The winner of the Bursary receives £3,000 spread over three years. Thanks to the generosity of Winifred Ferrier, legacies and other major donors, the Society is now able to give Second, Third and Accompanist’s Prizes.
Professor of Vocal and Operatic Studies Paul Wingfield said: “It would have been impressive enough if one RBC student had gone through to the final. The fact that two of our students represented us against two students from RAM (The Royal Academy of Music) and one from RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) is fantastic news.”
Pictured: Second-year Music students Hannah Devereux (left) and Millie Royle (right).