University News Last updated 16 June 2023
The annual Doris Newton Music Club Prize was held in the Recital Hall at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) earlier this week.
Fourth-year BMus student Mawupaynor Tsate took home the prestigious prize for his saxophone performance. Postgraduate student and mezzo-soprano Hannah Morley was honoured for her well-prepared vocal performance with the Elizabeth Rollason Award.
RBC welcomed back former Head of Woodwind Professor Janet Hilton to adjudicate the prize, and the event featured many of this academic year’s departmental prize winners such as Nina Lin (euphonium), Xueer Wu (viola) and Anna Young (saxophone).
Director of Postgraduate Studies and competition organiser Luan Shaw said: “The programme for the evening was varied and the performances were polished and well prepared. I won the Doris Newton Prize 30 years ago in 1993, so it brought back many fond memories for me!”
BMus student Mawupaynor Tsate said: “I am delighted to have been awarded the Doris Newton Music Club Award! I am grateful for the opportunity to play alongside so many talented musicians and it is an amazing way to bring my four years at RBC to an end.”
Advanced Postgraduate Diploma student Hannah Morley said: “I was fortunate to have won the RBC singing prize earlier in the year, which in turn gave me the chance to represent the Vocal Department in the Doris Newton Club Prize.
“The competition standard was very high, and I felt proud to have been amongst such accomplished musicians. I am thrilled to have won The Elizabeth Rollason Award and I congratulate all the other finalists and Mawupaynor Tsate on his win, along with a huge thank you to my accompanist Robin Bowman."
Pictured: (left to right) Postgraduate student Hannah Morley, former Head of Woodwind Professor Janet Hilton and BMus student Mawupaynor Tsate.