Somerset Song Prize 2021

The Somerset Song Prize is a biennial national singing competition for young people aged 18 to 26. It is a competition for art song and judges place a special importance on the collaborative relation-ship between the singer and their pianist. See The Art of the Collaborative Pianist. The definition of art song is reasonably wide although competitors must include in their programme a song which is not in their native language. Arias from oratorios and operas are not permitted.

The winning singer will receive a cash prize of £1000 and, decided separately, the winning pianist will also receive a cash prize of £1000. There are other generous cash prizes too.

Prize money includes:

* £1000 for the 1st Prize Singer

* £1000 for the Pianist Prize

* £500 for 2nd Prize Singer

* £250 for the Most Promising Young Singer (18-21 years old)

* £250 for the Most Promising Young Pianist (18-21 years old)

The Somerset Song Prize 2021 is open to any singer and pianist as a duo, where:

* the singer is 18-26 years old on 16 May 2021 and

* the pianist is 18-26 years old on 16 May 2021 if the pianist wishes to be considered for the main Pianist Prize (we are happy for older pianists to enter as part of a duo but they would not be eligible to receive a prize) and

* the duo submit an original video recording of 8-10 minutes with no extracts from opera or oratorio and at least one song not in the singer’s native language

* they complete this application form in full and submit it, and their video entry via Youtube by 28 February 2021.

Please download, complete and submit the entry form no later than 28 February 2021. The first round of the competition this year will be determined by video submission only, which need to be uploaded privately to Youtube also by 28 February. We provide detailed instructions on how to do this, so that only you and SSP can see what you upload. For full details and requirements, please refer to the entry form and contact us if you have any queries.