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'Keeping language alive through song': Tenor David Karapetian wins RWCMD's £15,000 inaugural Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize
Llongyfarchiadau mawr to the winner of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s inaugural Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize, David Karapetian.
Llongyfarchiadau mawr to the winner of the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama’s inaugural Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize, David Karapetian.
Held biennially in the Land of Song, in partnership with the Royal Welsh College, the Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize champions talented new voices, and showcases powerful expression through different languages, including Caneuon Cymraeg, or Welsh Song. The final of the Prize was preceded by a three-day residency at the College, including masterclasses, expert mentoring, and language training.
Celebrating the diverse world of storytelling through song, the finalists, undergraduates from all of the UK’s nine major music schools, each performed a programme of three pieces. These included a song celebrating their own language and culture, and a set Welsh song, ‘Pan ddaw'r nos’ by Meirion Williams.
‘I feel so incredibly proud of the inaugural Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize and so honoured to have lived every moment of the four days. My thanks to the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama for our partnership. and to everyone who was involved in creating such a wonderful experience.
Our finalists worked so diligently on their chosen repertoire and prepared my chosen song ‘Pan ddaw’r nos’ to such a high standard. I also have to add that the students have been a credit to their conservatoires.
My heartfelt congratulations and chapeau to our talented winner, David Karapetian.’Sir Bryn TerfelHead Judge and RWCMD Vice President
Head Judge Sir Bryn Terfel was joined by a prestigious international panel of singing and opera specialists: German classical music producer Ute Fesquet, formerly at Deutsche Grammophon. John Fisher, former Director of Music Administration at the Metropolitan Opera and former Artistic Director of WNO. Austrian mezzo-soprano Angelika Kirchschlager, and international operatic conductor and Conductor Laureate of Welsh National Opera, Carlo Rizzi.
The Sir Bryn Terfel Prize 2025 winner, tenor David Karapetian, represented the Royal Academy of Music, and chose to sing the Armenian song, Կռունկ, (The Crane) by Komitas:
‘Being part of the residency and competition truly made me feel like a real singer and performer. It opened my eyes to what it will take to move further in my career, from the incredible time spent working with the collaborative pianists to the inspiring masterclasses.
Winning the first Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize makes me incredibly grateful for the opportunity to share my passion for singing.
Working with Sir Bryn was a dream come true; experiencing his wisdom and generosity as a performer was truly surreal, and I’m just so happy to have been part of something so special. I extend my heartfelt thanks to Sir Bryn and everyone involved in creating this prize and making it possible.
It was also incredibly special to sing in my own language. Armenian song is a part of my culture that isn’t often heard in the wider performance world, so having the chance to share it with new audiences was deeply meaningful. I felt truly proud to represent a part of my heritage through music, and knowing that people connected with the words and melodies passed down through generations made the experience even more rewarding.
Coming from a small country with such a rich history, it means a lot to help keep our culture and language alive through song.’David KarapetianWinner of the first Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize
On introducing the finalists, Tim Rhys-Evans, RWCMD Director of Music, said, ‘This Song Prize has been the brainchild of our Vice President, Sir Bryn Terfel. I’m so incredibly proud of our finalist singers, not least for their poise and collegiality. They have been a joy to work with.'
Caradog Williams and Iwan Teifion Davies were the collaborative pianists, guiding, and performing with the young singers as they brought their songs to life.'
The award itself was created by the Rorie Brophy from the College’s Design for Performance department, made from sustainable Welsh materials, including fallen wood from the College’s Grade II listed back garden, Bute Park, and Welsh slate.
Editors notes
Congratulations to all the finalists, Lana Ben Halim, Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Oluwatimilehin Bimbo-Adeola from Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Kasia Bryl from Royal College of Music, Charlotte Elizabeth Crane from Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama, Hannah Devereux, Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, Emily Jackson from Leeds Conservatoire, Clementine Thompson from Royal Northern College of Music, Gwennan Wright, Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance.
The final on Saturday 8th November was preceded by a fully-funded three-day residency at the College, which included a lecture from the Archdruid, poet and linguist, Mererid Hopwood, movement workshops, Welsh language coaching with Sir Bryn himself, individual time with mentors, and masterclasses with Rebecca Evans and Richard Hetherington.
The Sir Bryn Terfel Song Prize
The new Song Prize takes place every two years, with a prize of £15,000.
Coming from a nation renowned for its love of singing, Bryn is passionate about his cultural heritage, and particularly Welsh Song or Caneuon Cymraeg. Having won the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Song Prize in 1989, followed by his acclaimed career as an opera singer, it’s particularly important that this prize in his name focuses on the artistry that song requires.
For this launch year, conservatoires in the UK were asked to choose a student to compete. In future years, it is planned that the opportunity to participate will be opened up to wider audition and will include young singers from international institutions.
The judges
Ute Fesquet, Award-winning Music Manager, German classical music producer, formerly at Deutsche Grammophon. She is best known for work with John Williams: The Berlin Concerto and Live in Vienna, and Anne-Sophine Mutter and Mendelssohn.
John Fisher is a conductor, opera manager, vocal coach and record producer. Formerly he was Artistic Administrator of La Scala in Milan, Director of Music Administration at the Metropolitan Opera, Artistic Director of WNO, as well as the Artistic Director of RWCMD’s David Seligman Opera School.
Angelika Kirchschlager, world-renowned Austrian mezzo-soprano, acclaimed as one of the foremost interpreters of the operas of Richard Strauss and Mozart. Her numerous awards include a Grammy, and in 2007 she was made a Kammersängerin of the Vienna State Opera by the Austrian Government.
Carlo Rizzi, international operatic conductor and Conductor Laureate of Welsh National Opera. He is the Artistic Director of Opera Rara and is the College’s International Chair in Conducting.
Cronfa Syr Bryn Terfel
Sharing a determination to amplify the importance of the arts in our society and to champion language, Wales, and future generations of creators and performers, RWCMD and its Vice President Sir Bryn launched Cronfa Syr Bryn Terfel. With the biennial Song Prize at it’s heart, Cronfa’s ambition is to build on early philanthropy successes, building a significant new source of support for talented young artists training at the College.
