23 November 2025 | Recital Room, Tonbridge School.
Contributions from James Gilchrist and Brian Parsons

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

A wonderful concert was held in Tonbridge School on Sunday 23 November 2025. This was the final of the Dorothy Richardson English Song Prize 2025. Five talented singers aged between 18 and 23 and their equally talented accompanists were selected by Julia Dewhurst and Adrian Thompson from the Preliminaries, and joined by Theresa Goble, Una McMahon, and Richard Jackson who had the mammoth task of selecting the prize winners. [Full line-up of participants above.]

The participants presented glorious programmes of speech and song to the assembled crowd. I was glad not to have been one of the judges and could just bask in the fabulous words and music. Each programme was beautifully crafted around a theme.

• Natasha Keith opened the afternoon with Purity vs Corruption with poems from a wide time-span, and including music that was diverse in style and period.
• Cameron Eldridge’s programme Young Love in War was much more centred in the “golden age” of English song, both from the poetry and the music, with his spoken pieces offering daringly new interpretations.
• Ruby Skilbeck offered us Between dreams and Desire, showcasing American songwriters Amy Beach and Aaron Copland.
• Cuan Durkin had a programme rooted in his native Ireland, with excellent exploration of newer music (Judith Weir) and a wonderful reading of Yeats, the Sligo connection to the fore.
• Our last competitor Molly Baker presented When the Heart would Stay ending with a beautifully characterful rendition of Liza Lehmann.
• The winner of the pianist’s prize, George Campbell, played with great sensitivity, impeccable balance and a rich palette of colours.

Worthy winners all:

Pianist’s Prize George Campbell
Third prize Ruby Skilbeck
Second prize Cuan Durkin
First prize Molly Baker
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Very well done to EVERYONE concerned and many thanks especially to the judges, Tonbridge School and the Events team, and Mike and Judy Hildesley of Taggs Yard for all your support of the AESS.