2026 Routledge 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.

Eight young singers and accompanists had auditioned in the Preliminary Round held in the elegant Music Room at Taggs Yard, five of whom were invited to the Finals, each repeating their themed programme of English Song, Prose and Poetry. 

Singer 1:
The heat and bustle of nearby Wigmore Street quickly seemed a world away in the cool stillness of Hinde Street Methodist Church, and the first singer Angharad Rowlands, accompanied by Daniel Peter Silcock presented her programme of ‘Nocturnal Longing’ with poise and with a committed and personal connection to the text. She found such ethereal beauty in Dilys Elwyn-Edwards’ setting of Yeats’ ‘The Cloths of Heaven’.

Singer 2:
Naomi Boot and Yihan Zhao followed with their programme titled ‘The Moon and the Maiden’. With a compelling stage presence, Naomi’s interpretation of C.V Stanford’s ‘La Belle Dame sans merci’ made a dramatic impact, and she went on to entertain and delight the audience not least with the light-hearted humour of Liza Lehman’s ‘If no one ever marries me’. 

Singer 3:
We were then invited to ‘Behold the Sea’ in a beautifully co-ordinated programme presented by Miranda Kettlewell and Alicia Hernandez Huebra. Choosing lines from Walt Whitman as her spoken items, Miranda then treated the audience to the richness of her mezzo soprano in a dramatic interpretation of Rebecca Clarke’s ‘The Seal Man’ and two songs from Elgar’s ‘Sea Pictures’ so beautifully suited to her vocal personality. 

Singer 4:
Quito Clothier who opened the second half of the afternoon is the epitome of a singer/actor. With a platform personality exuding charm and ease in communication, he became the Rake in his programme titled ‘The Progress of a Rake’. Accompanied stylishly by Joshua McDade, this was a programme rich in variety, colour, humour and drama and, yes, with the stark shock of the Rake’s inevitably tragic death in Rebecca Clarke’s setting of Houseman’s poem ‘Eight O’Clock’. Quite a performance! 

Singer 5:
The poised and accomplished performance presented by Natalka Pasicznyk and Bohdana Ravliuk in their programme ‘Behind the Comforting Shield of Night’ brought this wonderful afternoon to a close. Natalka has a voice of great beauty and the intensity and insight which she brought to bear throughout was utterly compelling. Particularly memorable was the spaciousness she found in Frank Bridge’s ‘Come to me in my Dreams’ where the text led the way so beautifully. She and Bohdana have an almost palpable connection in performance and this was so very evident in the underpin of emotional yearning in Ivor Gurney’s ‘Sleep’. 

The Finals Judges with some winners.
Front: Theresa Gobel ; 3rd from left – Sarah Pring; 2nd from Right – Richard Pearce; Right – Gwyn Hughes Jones @nd Row right – Stephen Miles

Who would have wanted to choose winners from such an impressive collection of performances? The judges Theresa Goble, Sarah Pring, Gwyn Hughes Jones, Stephen Miles and Richard Pearce, predictably deliberated for some time before handing Chairman Adrian Thompson their decisions:

The Prize Winners

• 

  Naomi Boot (3rd)

  

  Quito Clothier (2nd), Natalka Pasicznyk (1st), Yihan  Zhao (Piano)

  1st Place – Natalka Pasicznyk (Soprano)

• 2nd Place – Quito Clothier (Tenor) 
• 3rd Place – Naomi Boot (Mezzo Soprano)
• Accompanist Prize – Yihan Zhao

Many congratulations to all the performers for a truly wonderful afternoon of English Song and Words and special thanks to Brian Parsons for his efficient organisation and calm control of the Patricia Routledge English Song Prize Competition. Had Dame Patricia been there (and who knows, perhaps she was!) she would certainly have loved every minute.

Report by
Trustee Julia Dewhurst |
July 2026