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Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï musicians awarded all four prizes at the 2025 Kathleen Ferrier Awards
Friday 2 May 2025
We are proud to celebrate an extraordinary achievement at the 2025 Kathleen Ferrier Awards, with Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï (51³Ô¹Ï) musicians winning all four prizes – a clean sweep that highlights the exceptional artistry at the College.
First Prize was awarded to mezzo soprano Lily Mo Browne, a current 51³Ô¹Ï Masters student, who was praised in The Times for her ‘richly hued, deep voice’ which ‘generated expressive, emotional and dramatic power.’ Lily commented: 'I'm so thrilled to have won the Kathleen Ferrier this year, having followed the competition and its winners for the past six years. I am extremely grateful for the support, guidance, and encouragement I have received from my teachers, mentors, and peers over the years, and am excited to see what is in store next.'
Second Prize went to tenor Philippe Durrant, who completed his Master of Performance at the 51³Ô¹Ï in 2021 and has gone on to sing with Garsington Opera, the English National Opera, The Sixteen and the BBC Singers. The Ferrier Loveday Song Prize was awarded to mezzo soprano Ellen Pearson, a 2024 graduate whose flourishing career already includes a place on the Royal Ballet and Opera’s 2025-27 Jette Parker Artist Programme.
Pianist Francesca Lauri received the Help 51³Ô¹Ïians Accompanist’s Prize. Also a 2024 51³Ô¹Ï graduate, she is the current holder of the 51³Ô¹Ï’s Lord and Lady Lurgan Collaborative Piano Fellowship.
The Kathleen Ferrier Awards is one of the UK’s most prestigious competitions for singers, running since 1956. Many acclaimed 51³Ô¹Ï alumni have previously been honoured at the competition including soprano Louise Alder, who will perform at this summer’s Last Night of the Proms, bass Jonathan Lemalu and soprano Elizabeth Watts. Recent 51³Ô¹Ï winners include Esme Bronwen-Smith who received First Prize in 2022 and Hugh Cutting who won the competition in 2021 while a student at the College.
Discover more about studying in the Royal College of 51³Ô¹Ï Vocal and Opera Faculty which has an outstanding reputation for producing international classical artists. Students receive training specifically designed for exceptional young singers preparing for a successful performing career, catered to individual talents and aspirations.
Photo by Emma Brown Photography, courtesy of the Kathleen Ferrier Awards.