Success in the Ferrier Awards and the Olivier Awards

Tenor Bryan Hymel has crowned a terrific year by winning an Olivier Award for Outstanding Achievement in Opera, recognising his performances in Les Troyens, Robert le Diable, and Rusalka.  And at the Ferrier Awards last week, first prize was awarded to baritone, Gareth Brynmor Jones. He studies at the Royal Academy of Music and was the winner of the Royal Academy of Music Patrons' Award and a Worshipful Company of Musicians' Silver Medal. Second prize went to soprano Louise Alder (see my review of her recent recital) who is studying at the Royal College of Music International Opera School and is the inaugural Kiri Te Kanawa scholar there. The song prize went to baritone Johnny Herford.