Find out more
Last Friday, Wellington College’s Music Department hosted a memorable evening at the annual Montgomery Singing Competition, a flagship event that continues to highlight the remarkable vocal talent across the school.
Established in 1964, the Montgomery Prize was created to nurture and celebrate musical excellence, and the Singing Competition remains a central part of that tradition. This year’s event lived up to that reputation, offering an inspiring programme that spanned centuries, styles and languages from Handel and Bach to Bernstein and contemporary musical theatre.
Audiences were treated to an exceptional range of repertoire, performed with confidence, musicality and emotional depth. Highlights included:
- Expressive art song, including Fauré’s Après un Rêve and Schubert’s An die Musik
- Dramatic operatic excerpts from Mozart, Bizet and Handel
- Powerful sacred works by Bach and Mendelssohn
- Moments of storytelling from musical theatre, including West Side Story and Anastasia
Each performance offered something different, whether it was technical control, emotional nuance or a strong sense of narrative.
The competition was adjudicated by Nicola-Jane Kemp, an internationally experienced soprano and respected educator. Her detailed and thoughtful feedback added real depth to the evening, offering students valuable insight into their performances while reinforcing the supportive and developmental nature of the competition.
Following a closely contested evening, the results were announced:
- Winner: Arthur G R
- Runners-up: Beth G P, Hal G P, Mini S, Rosamund M
Arthur G R’s performance was particularly striking, combining technical assurance with a strong sense of atmosphere and control across contrasting repertoire.
What stood out most was the sense of ambition and commitment from every performer. The competition is not just about results but about giving students the platform to test themselves, refine their craft and share their work with an audience.
The Montgomery Singing Competition continues to be a defining feature of Wellington’s musical culture, a space where students can perform with purpose, take creative risks and grow as performers.
Congratulations to all involved in what was an exceptional evening.
