Clonter is 50 this year! Whilst we have a full programme lined up, there are still a few events that need some funding, and there is also the ongoing need for funding generally to continue to provide a nurturing and supportive place for emerging talent to flourish and entertain our audiences for generations to come.
Clonter Opera Prize 2024
We are delighted to announce that the Clonter Opera Prize 2024 on Saturday night went to baritone Sam Hird, representing the Royal College of Music. The runner up prize went to Madison Horman, representing the Royal Academy of Music. Sam Hird also won the Audience Prize.
Clonter was also nearly back to pre-Covid audience numbers, with the highest number of newcomers the Opera Prize has seen in recent years.
Some lovely feedback already in:
‘Everything about (Saturday) night was wonderful and uplifting.
The singers were of an astonishingly high calibre and any one of them would have been a worthy winner but I have to agree with the audience and the Judges -to hear an artist like Sam Hird sing the music of Monteverdi, Britten and Rossini with such telling artistry and musical intelligence was a rare treat.
EVERYTHING was beautifully organised from the moment of arrival with the car parking team being both helpful and cheerful and all the helpful FOH volunteers.
I cannot imagine how much work and thought and experience is needed to put on such an event but huge congratulations to everyone at Clonter. The audience had a wonderful and memorable evening.’
Thank you to all the judges,* who also brought some not inconsiderable sparkle to the proceedings themselves – check out the outfits – as well as their expertise, and Anna Meadmore for deftly and wittily guiding the audience through the wide range of repertoire, with the entertainment finished off by the one and only Stephen Reynolds, with his Clonter Fantasia.
What a great start to this historic year for Clonter. Thank you to all who attended the first of the 50th year celebrations.
*David Gowland, Artistic Director, Jette Parker Artists Programme, ROH
Helen Hogh, Director of Vocal Artists, Groves Artists
Aidan Oliver, Chorus Director, Glyndebourne
Elin Pritchard, who stepped in at the very last minute to replace Giselle Allen, who was unable to attend, to represent the singers fraternity
Clive Timms, Clonter’s Former Music Director