Winner Announced In Hunt For Uk’s Best Classical Vocal Talent

The 2026 winners of the Northern Aldborough Festival New Voices Singing Competition have been crowned as countertenor Tom Lilburn and his accompanist Jack Redman.

Now in its fourth year, the nationwide search spanning concert halls and conservatoires has become a showcase of the hottest rising stars, with a £7,000 prize fund.

Open to UK classical vocalists, aged 18-32, eight shortlisted singers went head-to-head in live semi-finals, which took part on 22 June during the Northern Aldborough Festival.

Four semi-finalists were chosen by the judging panel to compete in the grand final on 23 June, which took place at 7pm, hosted in the historic St Andrew’s Church in Aldborough near York.

They were Harrison Robb (baritone) with Catriona Mackenzie (piano); Archie Inns (tenor) with Daniel Silcock (piano); Elisabeth Lee (soprano) with Alfonso Sanchez Perez, and Tom Lilburn (counter-tenor) with Jack Redman (piano).

The winners Tom and Jack, received the Seastock Trust Prize of £5k.

Tom Lilburn is an English countertenor, Opera Prelude Young Artist 2025, and Lay Clerk at St George’s Chapel, Windsor. A Royal College of Music graduate, he performs widely in opera and oratorio and sang at Prince Philip’s 2021 funeral.

Jack Redman is a British pianist, organist, composer and singer, specialising in song and chamber music accompaniment. He has worked with Glyndebourne, The Sixteen and the OAE, and his compositions and arrangements have been featured by the Oxford International Song Festival and BBC Radio.

The second prize - The Yorkshire Music Future Fund Prize of £1500 - went to baritone Harrison Robb and pianist Catriona Mackenzie.

Third prize, the £500 Armitage Prize, chosen by the audience also went to Harrison and Catriona.

Selected finalists are also offered paid recitals at Harrogate International Festival and Leeds Song Festival.

The panel of distinguished judges this year were the former musical director of Opera North, Paul Daniel CBE, the acclaimed soprano Carolyn Sampson OBE, and the accompanist Anna Tilbrook, alongside festival director, Robert Ogden, and festival chair, Sir Andrew Lawson-Tancred.

The competition has fast become a fixture on the classical music calendar, thanks to its distinguished judges who, in previous years, have included Sir John Tomlinson CBE, Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Jane Glover and Edward Gardner OBE.

The New Voices Competition was launched in 2023 by Northern Aldborough Festival in response to funding cuts in the music sector, to provide a platform for emerging talent.

The inaugural winner was the mezzo-soprano Lea Shaw, who was consequently picked as a BBC Music Magazine ‘Rising Star.’ Last year, the festival helped Lea secure professional management with one of the UK’s leading agencies.

2025’s winner, the Scottish soprano Rachel Munro and pianist Jia Ning Ng, also performed their winning recital at the festival.

Each June, Northern Aldborough Festival welcomes world-class acts to the beautiful North Yorkshire village.

Now in its 32nd year, 2026’s festival continues until 27 June, with highlights including the Wild Arts opera company with Mozart’s The Marriage of Figaro in a production by Danielle de Niese, an evening with the festival’s guest speaker, the legendary broadcaster John Humphreys, and renowned pianist Lucy Parham with actress Joanna David telling the extraordinary life of Clara Schumann.

The festival closes on 27 June with the last night outdoor concert, in the grounds of Aldborough Manor. Festival goers are invited to pack a picnic for Oasis tribute band, Definitely Oasis. The night closes with a spectacular orchestrated firework display.

Aldborough is a picturesque Roman village, just half an hour from York or Harrogate, and its festival has become a leading fixture on the classical music calendar. Its patron is Dame Judi Dench.

Tickets https://aldboroughfestival.co.uk/