Student Performer of the Year

Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year

We are very proud that Bird student Paige Fenlon was selected as a finalist for the prestigious Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year. The 2019 competition was staged at the Theatre Royal Haymarket on Sunday 9 June, hosted by two-time Olivier Award winner and star of the current revival of Follies at the National Theatre, Joanna Riding. Paige was a very worthy, prize winning runner-up in the competition and receives our warmest congratulations.

This annual competition, co-produced by The Stephen Sondheim Society and Mercury Musical Developments, sees just 12 of the top student performers from musical theatre and drama schools across the UK each perform a song by Stephen Sondheim, and a new musical theatre song written by members of Mercury Musical Developments.

The performers are competing for the top prize of £1,000, judged by writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson, with Julia McKenzie (six-time Olivier Award nominee and two-time winner, and Tony Award nominee), and Peter Polycarpou (currently starring in Man of La Mancha).

Craig Glenday, Chair of The Stephen Sondheim Society, said ‘Stephen Sondheim has said that teaching is a sacred profession, so it’s a privilege to be able to honour this sentiment by supporting these talented students. It gives these bright lights the chance to sing on a West End stage – and to work with an established Director and Musical Director – and it gives the audience the chance to say ‘We were there!’ when they first heard these stars of the future perform!

The other finalists are:
Samantha Bingley – Brunel University
Jamie McCraken Bogyo – RADA (Royal Academy of Dramatic Art)
Cameron Burt – Guildford School of Acting
Louise Cowling – The Hammon
Ahmed Hamad – Arts Educational School
Niamh James – Royal Central School of Speech & Dram
Lily Kerhoas – Royal Academy of Music
Oisín Nolan-Power – Royal Academy of Music
Lucy Reynolds – Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama
Stuart Thompson – LAMDA (London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art)
Aliza Vakil – Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Past finalists of the student performer prize have included Hollywood star Taron Egerton, Tony Award winner Cynthia Erivo and Alex Young (Carrie in Carousel at ENO, Young Sally in Follies, and Sally Smith in Me and My Girl at Chichester).