Saturday the 3rd of May
Singing Workshop with Louise Winter and Will Hancox
Held at the ever supportive Stables Theatre, Hastings, our Artistic Director Louise Winter, hosted a singing workshop with distinguished pianist Will Hancox. Divided into three age categories 8-13 yrs/13-18yrs/experienced singers), singers were given time to work on a classical piece of their choice with Louise, collaborating and sharing ideas and technqiues. All sessions were followed by a Q&A with Louise and Will, and an afternoon recital in which singers performed the pieces they had been working on.
A wonderful experience for singers and pianists, who gained invaluable one-on-one coaching and advice from Louise and Will, as well as a chance to perform in front of an audience!
15th of February 2025
‘Tea With a Splash of Love’
On Sunday the 15th of February, our Artistic Director, Louise Winter, held a Valentine’s Concert at Penhurst Church. A celebration of romantic words and music, Louise performed pieces with accompaniment by Arran Keith, and actress Karen Drury recited poetry and spoken word pieces. The concert was followed by homemade cakes and tea in The Manor, and thank you to everyone who attended such a beautiful afternoon of love.
21st of November 2025
Second Junior Finals
On the 21st of November, the second Ashburnham English Song Awards Junior Finals, was held at Abott’s Hall in Battle Abbey School. Students from across Sussex competed for the prestigious award and gained priceless experience learning and performing an extensive repetoire of English Song. Our wonderful judges consisted of Catherine Wyn-Rogers and Paul Nilon, and accompanying the performers, was pianist Ashley Beauchamp. It was a fantastic evening of music and it was wonderful to see the next generation of performers. Thank you also to our audiences for their support! You can read about the winners and runners up on our ‘Past Winners’ section.
18th of August 2024
‘Women in the Arts’
On Sunday the 18th of August, our wonderful Artistic Director, Louise Winter, was joined by actress Karen Drury and pianist, Arran Keith, for an afternoon of poetry, song and music, paying homage to some of the most prolific female artists. With performances of Emily Brontë’s poetry, monologues to Irving Berlin’s ‘Sisters’, and a piano piece by American artist Amy Beach, it truly was a remarable afternoon. Thank you to our marvellous performers, as well as the Stables Theatre, for their continued support of AESA!
21st of July 2024
‘English Song on a Summer’s Morning’
Our recent coffee morning recital was performed by Ashburnham 2024 Finalist, Soprano Karla Grant, and the 2024 Ashburnham Runner-Up Prize for a Pianist, Jia Ning Ng. Performing their repetoire ‘Love on the Land and Sea’, the musicians were also joined by our Artistic Director, Louise Winter, in a surprise performance that delighted audiences. It was a brilliant morning and thank you to everyone who attended!
18th of February 2024
‘Connections, Conflict, Comfort’
Composers have always learned from, loved and loathed each other. Distinguished mezzo-soprano Louise Winter and pianist William Hancox explored both the connections and the conflicts beneath the surface of songs by Brahms, Wolf, Duparc, Britten, Vaughan Williams, Rebecca Clarke, Muriel Herbert and others, in an afternoon concert that proved by informative and entertaining for audiences.
29th of July 2023
‘An Evening of Midsummer Delights’
With words from Shakespeare, W.H. Auden, Philip Larkin and music from Orkney Folk Songs to Haydn Wood and John Rutter, ‘An Evening of Midsummer Delights’, was a reminder of what riches are to be found in these islands’ centuries-old heritage of music and literature. 2023 Ashburnham English Song Awards Second Prize for Singers recipient, Catriona Hewitson and pianist Kristina Yorgova gave captivating performances of music including Claire Liddell’s song cycle Five Orkney Scenes, Seascape by Benjamin Britten, and William Walton’s Daphne with words by Edith Sitwell. Audiences were treated yet again by the Whatlington Singers, whose performance of Keane’s smash hit, Sovereign Light Café, in a special arrangement for the choir by Tom Rice-Oxley, concluded the first half, and their later performance of James MacMillan’s glorious O Radiant Dawn was beautiful
Renowned actor Karen Drury brought yet more magic to the evening with several readings, including Composed upon Westminster Bridge, William Wordsworth’s timeless reflections on a quiet early morning in London before it springs to life. St. Mary’s pulpit doubled as Shakespeare’s famous balcony from Romeo and Juliet, as actors Steven Finley and Lily Sitzia peformed an extract from the play, captiviating audiences with the immortal lines of the star-crossed lovers.
And of course, Louise Winter, Artistic Director and Founder of the Ashburnham English Song Awards, was never going to escape without singing! Her performance of Dusk, the popular waltz by Cecil Armstrong Gibbs and Brown Bird Singing by Haydn Wood, both accompanied at the piano by Arran Keith, was yet another delight for the audience.
An evening of Midsummer Delights indeed, and we were of course delighted that a portion of the proceeds was donated by Battle Festival to the AESAs as well.
Written by: Brenda Anson
23rd of November 2023
English Song Public Masterclass
On 23rd November 2023 Dame Felicity Lott (below centre) and Sebastian Wybrew (far right), both of whom will be on the judging panel for each stage of this year’s competition, gave a memorably inspiring masterclass to four singers and their collaborative pianists. Held in the recital room at the Razumovsky Academy in London, this was a fantastic opportunity for the singers and audience alike, and more such events are planned.
21st of November 2023
First Junior Ashburnham English Song Awards Finals
Adjudicating with our Artistic Director Louise Winter was Mary Weingold, a highly experienced and respected Professor of Voice at the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music and Dance in London and before presenting the Awards, Mary explained the reasoning behind their choices: ‘the voice may be beautiful but the singer also needs to connect with the audience and tell the song’s story with emotion’. It was this ability that won Alfie Gidney the First Prize of a £100 voucher, kindly donated by Brittens Music. Alfie performed Go Lovely Rose by Roger Quilter and Dusk by Armstrong Gibbs.
A second prize of a £50 Brittens Music voucher was awarded to Edie Holm for her lovely performance of A Blackbird Singing by Michael Head and Dream Valley by Roger Quilter. Prizes were also awarded to accompanists Rupert Sheppard and Alexander Wakeford for their exceptionally fine playing.
It was both delightful and encouraging to hear songs from our centuries-old heritage of music brought to life by a new generation of singers.
We are so grateful to Battle Abbey School for making this event possible by allowing us to use the beautiful Abbot’s Hall and for their generous hospitality afterwards. Also to Brittens Music for donating the Singers’ prizes.
