L-R Heleen Mendl-Schrama, patron; Mar Umbert Kimura, pianist; Edward Freeman, baritone.

This year’s Mendl-Schrama Prize in Music was held on February 1 in the Holywell Music Room. There was a strong field, maybe the strongest we’ve seen in the ten years the prize has been running. Twelve singers and voice/piano partnerships from across the University applied and all acquitted themselves admirably, with a few stand-out performances. The variety of music on offer, from Handel and Mozart to Clara Schumann and Libby Larsen showed just how advanced these young musicians are. Isabella Li-Yan-Hui (soprano) and Max Ren (piano), Univ’s representatives in the competition, deserve a mention here, as they offered a well-polished and exciting performance of 20th century music.

In the evening, last year’s winner, Edward Freeman, a baritone from The Queen’s College, gave his prize recital, with a contemplative selection of Lieder and English Song. This was a well-paced and thoughtful programme of music exploring a wide range of subjects and was attended by an appreciative audience. Ed continues his musical journey with a place on the Master’s course at the Royal Academy of Music, beginning in September. The winner of the 2025 prize was announced, as is now the custom, at the end of this performance, and we are delighted to publish here the result. It was deemed by the panel that there should be a first prize and two second prizes.

Heleen Mendl-Schrama and Divine Simbanegavi, mezzo soprano and this year’s winner.

Divine Simbanegavi, a mezzo soprano from St Catherine’s, is only in her first year, but displayed great poise and serenity in her audition and was a worthy winner. The second prizes were won by Jemima Price, a third-year soprano from The Queen’s College, with a fine, even-toned voice; and Jack Bowley, first-year tenor from Magdalen, who showed great promise. Both will be performers  to watch in the future.

Thanks must go to the panel: Heleen Mendl-Schrama, patron; Teresa Cahill, soprano; Julian Jacobson, pianist; Bruce Harris, Trustee; Leonardo Raznovich, Trustee. The panel was chaired by Giles Underwood, Director of Music at Univ, and Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music.

Published: 6 February 2025

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