2025 Dorothy Richardson Intermediate Prize Winners and Accompanists
Cuán Durkin (3rd), Thomas Eekhaut (Piano), Una McMahon, Richard Jackson, Theresa Gobel, George Campbell (Piano Prize), Molly Baker (1st), Ruby Skilbeck, Natascha Keith, Cameron Eldridge
2026 Catherine Lambert Junior Prize Finalists & Accompanists
Patricia Williams, Zara Musoni, James Partridge, Quentin Ballard, Ryaan Vyas, Evangelos Zacharias, Andrei Liushkin
2026 Sarah Leonard Songwriting Prize Winners
(Above) Dimitris Androniadis, Max Knight, (below) Thomas Eeckhout, Nicholas Gawley
2026 CAA WordSong Actors’ Prize Finalists and Judges
Back: Lakshmi Robertson, George Adams, Maya Caitlin-Millar, Arthur Drury, Marcela Weltsek-Medina, Aimee Goodship Front: Marilyn Cutts, Abi Eliola, Tom George Fletcher, Fortune Ibrahim, Alya Arrindell, Nicola Blackman, Geoffrey Aymer (Missing: Tobia Martin-Clarke)
2026 WordSong Patricia Routledge English Song Prize
Finalists: Angharad Rowlands (Inset), Joshua McDade, Bohdana Ravliuk, Natalka Pasicznyk, Alicia Hernandez Huebra, Miranda Kettlewell, Yihan Zhao, Naomi Boot [inset]; Rear: Quito Clothier & Daniel Peter Silcock.
See Links to the individual Prize/Competition Winner Reports – currently…
2025 Dorothy Richardson Prize | 2026 Catherine Lambert Prize |
2026 Sarah Leonard Songwriting Prize | 2026 CAA Actors’ Prize
2026 Patricia Routledge English Song Prize
Welcome to WordSong
Formerly known as “AESS” – Association of English Singers and Speakers
Established 1913
WordSong/AESS is proud to welcome singers, speakers, educators and voice enthusiasts from around the world. Whether you work in opera, spoken word, drama, or voice education—if English is your medium, WordSong is your home.
WordSong is dedicated to promoting the interpretation of the English language, both sung and spoken, to the highest standards.
We organise five unique annual competitions for young classical singers, accompanists, composers and actors to encourage clear and imaginative English in performance. We also organise concerts and Masterclasses.
In addition we offer grants, and opportunities to interact with members, and consult useful Crosslinks & Affiliated locations online.
We have a diverse membership, including both professional and amateur musicians and actors, enthusiasts, scholars, academics, and members who support and encourage the performance, study, and celebration of songs and speeches created with English text.
We welcome both competitors and new members from a diverse range of backgrounds and hope you will consider joining us.
Why WordSong?
Our new name neatly sums up what we do: we are about the use of the English Language in Word and in Song.
We want to appeal to people who share a fascination with the language on stage, concert platform, in poetry readings and chamber music meetings.
We are a destination for YOU to share your events and thoughts about this wonderful language.
Read expanded version…
We host 5 annual WordSong Competitions...
…for young singers, actors and composers.
(Also: The “Routledge” (Senior) and “Richardson” (Intermediate) also offer a pianist’s prize!)
in upcoming order…
NEXT COMPETITION
Oct/Nov 2026
Dorothy Richardson English Song Prize
(Intermediate)
NEXT COMPETITION
March 2027
Catherine Lambert English Song Prize
(Junior)
NEXT COMPETITION
April (May) 2027
Sarah
Leonard English Songwriting Prize
NEXT COMPETITION
April 2027
Concert Artistes’ Association Prize
for Actors
NEXT COMPETITION
Jun/Jul 2027
Patricia Routledge English Song Prize
(Senior)
2026 WordSong / AESS Prizewinners Concert
Friday 18 September 2026
at 7:30 pm
St. Giles Cripplegate
Fore St, Barbican, London EC2Y 8DA
Ticket Details & Booking:
Prices & details online.
- Patricia Routledge Prize
Natalka Romaniw – Soprano, Bohdana Ravliuk– Piano - Catherine Lambert Prize
Rayaan Vyas – baritone, Yvain Calvo Caballero – Piano - Dorothy Richardson Prize
Molly Baker – Soprano, Thomas Eeckhout – Piano - CAA Acting Prize
Fortune Ibrahim - Sarah Leonard Songwriting Prize
Winning settings by Dimitrios Androniadis, Max Knight, Nicholas Gawley and Thomas Eeckhout - Hear our new Chair, the internationally acclaimed Tenor Adrian Thompson, with pianist Stephen Gutman perform the Sarah Leonard songwriting prize songs. READ MORE…
IN MEMORIAM
WordSong recently learned of the passing of two illustrious luminaries. They will be remembered!
Reminiscences will follow soon…
Dame Felicity Lott
Soprano
Read more
Next Competitions
Competitions in 2026
Dorothy Richardson
Intermediate Prize
1 Nov 2026 | Finals: Tonbridge School, Kent TN9 1JP | Read More
Latest Updates
18 Sep 2026 | WordSong Prizewinners Concert | St Giles Cripplegate, London EC2T 8DA
Join us for an evening celebrating some of the most exciting emerging performers and composers in English speech and song. The winners of WordSong’s national competitions come together for a special showcase concert at St Giles’ Cripplegate on Friday 18 September at...
2026 WordSong Patricia Routledge English Song Prize | Finals Report
A hot and sultry Monday afternoon (6 July 2026) is perhaps not the best time to be in Central London unless, of course, one is there for something very special. And very special it proved to be in the unmissable Finals of the WordSong Patricia Routledge English Song...
Actors Prize 2025 | Finalists and judges letting their hair down...
James Gilchrist - Chair
I’m absolutely delighted to be taking over as chair of this wonderful association. I hope that we will continue in our mission to spread the glories of the English language in word and song, through our competitions and publications. It’s hard to come in after the astonishing chairmanship of Sarah Leonard. Especially so, since it was through her untimely death that she has gone. She would have wanted the society to thrive, and I shall do everything I can to make that happen.
Calling all composers, singers, pianists and actors: we are here for you.
Join us!
WordSong?
What does WordSong offer?
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Competitions
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Events
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Grants
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Connections
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Inspiration
WordSong
…promotes the highest standards of the English language, sung and spoken, welcoming singers, speakers, educators and voice professionals worldwide.
Report –
2025 CAA Actors' Prize
In Memoriam
9 Oct 2025 | Remembering Dame Patricia Routledge (1929 – 2025) | Reminiscences from AESS Leaders
Dame Patricia Routledge died on 3 October 2025. She has rightly had many obituaries in the press, and it's wonderful to see how she was respected and loved. We've lost a National Treasure. Dame Patricia has taken an active interest in our association for years now,...