...to encourage the communication of English words, in singing and speech, with clarity, understanding and imagination...
The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition 2025
The 2025 Senior Prize, The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition final will take place at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, London on Monday July 7th from 2.30pm.
INTRODUCTION
The 2025 Senior Prize, The Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition
will take place at the Guildhall School of Music & Drama on
Monday, July 7th from 2.30pm.
Selected prize winners will be offered the opportunity to perform in the AESS’s Prize Winners Concert in central London at a date TBC.
The 1st Prize winner and the winner of the Accompanists Prize will be offered Honorary Membership of the AESS for three years.
The finals will be open to AESS members and the public.
Entrants are encouraged to explore the vast wealth of material from more than five hundred years of song writing, prose and poetry, of writers and composers world-wide who employ the English language. All songs must use the original English. English translations of original foreign words are not acceptable. Ideas can be found in the AESS Century of English Song – Volumes 1-10, details of which can be found under the 'Publications' section on the AESS website.
PROSPECTUS
Purpose:
The purpose of the Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition, in accordance with the aims of the AESS, is “to encourage the communication of English words, in singing and in speech, with clarity, understanding and imagination”.
Requirement:
Competitors are asked to present and sing a themed recital of ‘Art’ songs with original English texts. The integrated programme may include spoken links and must contain at least one piece of poetry or prose. It should not exceed 20 minutes in total. Candidates are required to bring their own accompanist.
The same programme must be delivered from memory in its entirety in both rounds. (A high number of entrants might necessitate that one song be omitted in the preliminary round.)
The judges will give equal attention to the spoken and sung elements of the programme.
Eligibility:
The competition is open to full-time students at institutions of further education in the UK and Ireland where singing or speech are taught. Each institution may nominate up to four candidates but may at the discretion of the committee be allowed further candidates if they are of a very high standard. Also, the competition is open to members and to students who are pupils of members of the Association.
Age Limit:
Open to those who are 23 – 32 years of age on July 7th 2025.
This age limit does not apply to pianists
Prizes:
First Prize – £2,000
Second Prize – £1,000
Third Prize – £1,000
Accompanist's Prize - £1,000
Selected prize winners will be offered the opportunity to perform in the AESS’s Prize Winners Concert in central London at a date TBC
THE COMPETITION
The competition will be in two stages.
Stage One:
The preliminary round will be held at the GSMD on Wednesday, July 2nd during the day between 11.00am and 5.00pm. Candidates should state a preference for a particular time, if they have one (please check this with your accompanist first), although this cannot necessarily be guaranteed. The panel of judges is drawn from members of the Association who have not themselves submitted candidates. They will select up to six competitors from this round to compete in the final.
Stage Two:
The final will be held at GSMD Monday, July 7th from 2.30pm
Expenses:
Competitors will be expected to defray their own expenses for the first stage. Standard class travel expenses will be offered to finalists travelling to London.
Entry:
A nominal, non-refundable, entry fee of £20.00 is charged to cover administrative expenses. Entries must be made on the official forms provided and must be received no later than Wednesday, June 25th by email only.
Previous winners of this competition are not eligible to enter a second time.
Feedback from the judges will be given to all entrants as soon as is practicable for both rounds.
If your singing teacher is a member of the AESS, you may have a 50% reduction of the administration fee.
Enquiries:
Stephen Miles: Tel. 07767688514 E-mail. miles.s.j@btinternet.com
The article by 2014 Senior Prizewinner, Alexei Winter will be of use to those who are unsure of how to devise a recital for the AESS competitions. You can read it here:
2019 Winner, Milly Forrest, writes of her experience in the competition: