Photographs by Elliott Franks
The music section was delighted to hold our first ever Awards Presentation on September 21st in the marvellous surroundings of the National Liberal Club. These awards were for 2020 and 2021, both years amalgamated owing to the pandemic. An extremely jovial party ensued in the presence of the President, Suzi Feay, two former Presidents, Stephen Pettitt and Tom Sutcliffe, Hon Gen Sec Rick Jones, Hon Treasurer Peter Cargin, and our award winners were joined by many eminent guests from the music world.
Neil Fisher presents the award for Best Opera Film to Selina Cadell, Eliza Thompson and the team from OperaGlass Works Ash Khandekar with Richard Willacy, general director of Birmingham Opera Company, accepting the award for Outstanding achievement in opera, in memory of the work of Sir Graham Vick Jessica Duchen with Rachael Hewer and Jaz Manville from VOPERA, winners of Best Multimedia Opera Chairman of the music section Robert Thicknesse with Rachael Hewer Atholl Swainston Harrison from IAMA, Rachael Hewer and Jaz Manville, and CC President Suzi Feay Stephen Pettitt presents the Lockdown Star award to Hugh Mather of St Mary’s Perivale Hon Secretary Guy Rickards presents Best Young Conductor award to Jonathon Heyward Michael Church presents Best Young Pianist award to Nicolas Namoradze Amanda Holloway presents Best Young Composer award to Alex Ho Amanda Holloway and Robert Thicknesse Rupert Christiansen presents Best Young Singer award to bass Will Thomas Suzi Feay, Peter Cargin, Ash Khandekar, Tom Sutcliffe Jaz Manville and Rachael Hewer of VOPERA Selina Cadell and Eiza Thomson of OperaGlass Works Will Thomas Owen Mortimer with Tom Sutcliffe Stephen Pritchard and Jessica Duchen Amanda Holloway with Philippa Chamberlayne George Hall and Selina Cadell Atholl Swainston-Harrison and Suzi Feay The winners! Richard Willacy Jonathon Heyward Hugh Mather Alex Ho Nicholas Namoradze Will Thomas Nicholas Payne (far right) of Opera Europa, with members of the Circle and award winners