International Chair in Opera, Maestro Xu Zhong returns to RWCMD
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Janet Price Opera Prize 2023
This year’s Janet Price Opera Prize has been won by first year MA Opera Performance student, Weiying Sim. This year, as well as a cash prize, she also wins a London concert date courtesy of College partner, Opera Rara.
The eight competitors performed their 15-minute programme to a live audience and a panel of esteemed judges.
Janet Price, the founder of the prize, is a firm believer in the bel canto tradition as a fundamental component of operatic training. Reflecting this, each performer is required to present a programme including an Italian aria in the bel canto tradition, a Mozart aria, and a German Lied or French Art song.
'It was lovely to hear all eight of the RWCMD's first year Opera students and I was especially pleased with their choice of programmes.
Not only were they beautifully varied, but they also contained many items not heard in the previous competitions. So I congratulate them on taking the trouble to find something different, thereby expanding their own repertoires and at the same time providing something new for the audience to enjoy.
Weiying Sim was a worthy winner - she has a lovely voice, a nice feeling for line, and her three items showed much potential for future development.
I wish all the students an enjoyable, fruitful and successful second year of opera studies at RWCMD.'Janet Price
The annual prize, founded in 2017, is open to students in their first year of study of the MA Opera Performance course at the College’s David Seligman Opera School.
'Janet Price sang on Opera Rara’s first ever operatic recording, Donizetti’s Ugo Conte di Parigi, and we’re delighted to be collaborating with Janet and the Royal Welsh College on this prestigious Prize.
We look forward to hearing Weiying Sim sing in an Opera Rara salon concert next season.'Henry LittleChief Executive, Opera Rara
Weiying told us how much winning the prize meant to her:
'I feel incredibly humbled and grateful to win the 2023 Janet Price Opera Prize. Winning this prize gives me the opportunity to continue the lifelong pursuit of this art that is so special to me and this journey is impossible without the support from the esteemed soprano Janet Price, Opera Rara and RWCMD. Thank you so much.'
Congratulations to Weiying Sim, and the other performers, Matthew Bawden, Kira Charleton, Abigail Fraser, Chloe Hare-Jones, Isobel Hughes, Rhiannon Morgan and Andre Soares.
Sitting alongside Janet Price, this year’s judges also included Henry Little, Chief Executive of Opera Rara, Lyndon Jones, BBC Cardiff Singer of the World and Mary King, Head of Vocal Studies at RWCMD.
The accompanist was RWCMD’s Music Director for the David Seligman Opera School, James Southall.
