Competition season

Competitions seem to happen in fits and bursts over the year, and September, like February, is one of those bursts!  Last weekend was crammed with playing for three days of the Hampshire Singer of the Year preliminary rounds, as one of the two official accompanists (with Marc Verter).  Newly relaunched as a national competition with significant status and prize money, this opportunity has attracted a high level of vocal talent, so congratulations to those through to the next stage in October.  Hot on its heels was the Pavarotti opera prize at the Academy (again the official accompanist), hotly contested with arias ranging from Handel to Stravinsky, via Mozart, Verdi, Berlioz and Britten (an exercise in playing most of the hardest orchestral reductions in one evening…), but deservedly won by Ruth Jenkins.  Just a few Glyndebourne auditions to play for next week…