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Commentary

26 Feb 2019

Handel Singing Competition semi-finalists announced

The Handel Singing Competition has announced its 13 semi-finalists who will be competing in the 2019 Competition. The semi-final is due to take place on 5 March at Grosvenor Chapel, and the final is on 6 April at St George’s, Hanover Square - both in front of a live audience. The Competition this year received over 170 applications from all around the world, from 25 countries as far afield as Argentina, Australia, Israel, the United States and Canada.

The adjudicators for this year’s Competition include Ian Partridge CBE, Catherine Denley, Michael George, Lawrence Zazzo, Rosemary Joshua and Jane Glover. The semi-finalists will be accompanied on harpsichord and will each sing for fifteen minutes in an all-Handel programme. Five or six singers will proceed to the final in April and will be accompanied by the London Handel Orchestra and Laurence Cummings, musical director of the London Handel Festival. St.George's, Hanover Square is of course the church where Handel himself worshipped, and the Festival continues his great tradition of nurturing young talent through the Handel Singing Competition.

All of the finalists are between 23 to 34 years old and will be competing to win one of four prizes: First Prize (£5000), Second Prize (£2000), Audience Prize (£500) and the Finalist Award (£300).

"I am thrilled with the response to the Handel Singing Competition this year, with a record number of applications from across the world, demonstrating that this is a truly international event. Congratulations to all the Semi-Finalists - we look forward to hearing you all on 5 March!" Samir Savant, Festival Director - London Handel Festival

The Handel Singing Competition has been held annually since 2002 and has grown year on year, aiming to continue Handel’s tradition of nurturing young talent. Past finalists include Ruby Hughes, Iestyn Davies, Lucy Crowe, Tim Mead, Sophie Junker and Anna Starushkevych. The Competition works with an impressive line-up of adjudicators, and past judges include James Bowman, Iestyn Davies, John Mark Ainsley and Rosemary Joshua. All of the finalists from this year’s Competition are guaranteed a lunchtime recital in the 2020 London Handel Festival.

https://www.london-handel- festival.com/page/competition/ 24/
For information about the London Handel Festival click here

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