{"id":1472,"date":"2020-12-04T13:57:57","date_gmt":"2020-12-04T13:57:57","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/New\/?page_id=1472"},"modified":"2025-11-13T21:11:30","modified_gmt":"2025-11-13T21:11:30","slug":"emmy-destinn-singing-competition","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/?page_id=1472","title":{"rendered":"Emmy Destinn Singing Competition"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The great Czech singer, Emmy Destinn<\/strong> (1878\u20131930), was the inspiration for the launch in London in 1998 of the foundation bearing her name, with the aim of promoting Czech opera and song and providing practical support to young singers. Every two years, a Singing Competition is held in London. The Society awards a prize of \u00a3500 for the best rendition of a 21st<\/sup>-century song by a Czech or Slovak composer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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2025 Emmy Destinn Young Singers Awards<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The final of this year\u2019s Young Singers\u2019 Awards Competition will take place at Velehrad (39 Lonsdale Road, Barnes, London SW13 9JP)  on Sunday 23 November 2025 at 5pm<\/s>.  This concert will take place in February 2026.<\/font>
More information will be available on Emmy Destinn Foundation<\/strong><\/a> website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Emmy Destinn Young Singers’ Awards 20<\/strong>23<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Final of the 13th<\/sup> Emmy Destinn Young Singers\u2019 Awards Competition took place at Velehrad, Barnes, London on 18th<\/sup> November 2023.  The famous Czech soprano, Emmy Destinn (1878\u20131930) was the inspiration for the foundation bearing her name. It was launched in London in 1997, to promote Czech opera and song, as well as provide practical support to young singers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There were seven talented finalists: three sopranos, one mezzo-soprano, one tenor, one baritone and one bass, with their equally talented accompanists.  Apart from one item in English, all the songs were performed in Czech.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The First Prize of \u00a32,000<\/strong>, sponsored by Velehrad, London<\/a>, was awarded to the tenor, Martins Smaukstelis<\/strong>.  He was born in Latvia, completed his studies at the Royal Academy of Music in London and has already commenced his operatic career in Britain and other countries.  Martins performed a varied programme of works by Jan\u00e1\u010dek (Potkal jsem mladou cik\u00e1nku<\/em> from The Diary of One who Disappeared), <\/em>Kapr\u00e1lov\u00e1 (Sbohem a \u0161\u00e1te\u010dek) <\/em>and Dvo\u0159\u00e1k (Dejte klec jest\u0159\u00e1bu<\/em> from Gypsy Songs, <\/em>finishing with Vidino divn\u00e1, p\u0159esladk\u00e1 <\/em>as sung by the Prince in Rusalka.) <\/em>He was accompanied by Panaretos Kyriatzidis, a previous prize-winner, and so not eligible for a prize, well-known to those who had attended Emmy Destinn Competitions and concerts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The winner of the prize of \u00a3500 awarded by The Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society for Czech and Slovak Music<\/strong> was Arthur Bruce<\/strong>, a baritone from Scotland.  He is a former Scottish Opera Emerging Artist, a Samling Artist, and a Britten-Pears Young Artist, who graduated from the Royal Northern College of Music, The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland\u2019s Alexander Gibson Opera School and ENO\u2019s Opera Works programme. He has also commenced an operatic career.  Arthur included some less well-known songs in his programme by Martin\u016f (Kon\u00ed\u010dky na ouho\u0159e, Ztracen\u00fd pantofl\u00ed\u010dek, P\u00edse\u0148 n\u00e1bo\u017en\u00e1, Pozv\u00e1n\u00ed <\/em>from Four Songs on Czech Folk Poetry<\/em>)and Pavel Haas (V bambusov\u00e9m h\u00e1ji <\/em>from Four Songs on Chinese Poetry<\/em>).  In addition, he sang Je to pravda<\/em> from Rusalka <\/em>and concluded with Jen jedin\u00e1 m\u011b \u017eeny kr\u00e1sn\u00e1<\/em> from Smetana\u2019s opera The Devil\u2019s Wall.  <\/em>Arthur was also accompanied by Panaretos Kyriatzidis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Czech Song Prize of \u00a3500<\/strong>, sponsored by Dr. Jan Telensk\u00fd, was awarded to Si\u0203n Dicker <\/strong>(soprano).  She has previously won the 2020 Royal Over-Seas League Singer\u2019s Prize and was listed in the BBC Music Magazine\u2019s February 2023 \u2018Rising Stars\u2019 feature. She has recently taken part in operas and festivals of art songs.  Si\u0203n\u2019s programme included Kde to jsem<\/em> from Jan\u00e1\u010dek\u2019s opera Jen\u016ffa, <\/em>items by Smetana and Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, as well as Nav\u017edy<\/em> by Kapr\u00e1lov\u00e1.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The Accompanist\u2019s Prize of \u00a3500,<\/strong> sponsored by Lady Grenfell-Baines, was awarded to Bethany Reeves, a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and now a staff accompanist there.  She is also a composer and Director of Music at St Faith\u2019s, North Dulwich and Little St Luke\u2019s, Islington.  Bethany has already won several prizes and graduated from Brasenose College Oxford with first-class honours.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Jarmila Karas, Founder of the Emmy Destinn Foundation, and Yvette Bonner, winner of the first competition in the year 2000, both commented on the very high standard of all competitors this year. A most appreciative audience congratulated them. The winners were each presented with a white rose, Emmy Destinn\u2019s favourite flower, with many of which her chateau had been bombarded by a smart young airman, Josef Halsbach, who became her husband.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Many thanks are due to Jarmila Karas for her excellent organisation of the whole competition, including a workshop in the summer.  It was a pity that Karel Janovick\u00fd, who had contributed so much during the competition, was unable to attend.  Finally, we are grateful to Ludmila Stan\u011b for her efficient management and warm welcome to Velehrad.  We look forward to future events and competitions there.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susan Jenkinson<\/em><\/strong>
(Newsletter #145, page 8)<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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Winners of the 2023 Competition from left to right are Susan Jenkinson (DS Secretary) behind a photo of Emmy Destinn, Arthur Bruce (Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society Prize), Bethany Reeves (Accompanist\u2019s Prize), Martins Smaukstelis (First Prize) and Si\u0203n Dikker (Czech Song Prize), with Terry Heard (DS Membership Secretary) on the right.<\/em><\/p>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n

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Emmy Destinn Young Singers’ Awards 20<\/strong>21<\/h3>\n\n\n\n

There were six talented finalists, four sopranos, one mezzo soprano and one tenor, with their equally talented accompanists. Apart from one item in English and one in German, everyone sang in Czech.

The First Prize of \u00a32,000<\/strong>, sponsored by Velehrad, was awarded to Caroline Taylor<\/strong>, soprano, who had graduated with Distinction from the Royal Northern College of Music and has already commenced an operatic career. Caroline began her recital dramatically with Kradla jsem<\/em> sung by the Vixen in Jan\u00e1\u010dek\u2019s The Cunning Little Vixen<\/em>. She continued expressively with songs by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k: V tak mnoh\u00e9m srdci mrtvo jest<\/em> and M\u00e1 p\u00edse\u0148 zas mi l\u00e1skou zn\u00ed<\/em>. Caroline and her accompanist, Hamish Brown, gave a very descriptive performance of little horses galloping in Jan\u00e1\u010dek\u2019s setting from Moravian folk poetry Kon\u00ed\u010dky mil\u00e9ho<\/em>. Their recital concluded in German with Hanna\u2019s Vilja Lied<\/em> from Leh\u00e1r\u2019s The Merry Widow<\/em>.

The winner of the Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society for Czech and Slovak Music Prize (\u00a3500)<\/em> was Sam Utley<\/strong>, tenor, originally from Oregon, USA, who had studied at Brigham Young University, USA, and
more recently at the Royal Academy of Music in London. He is currently a young artist with Rose Opera in south-west London. Sam began his recital with two operatic pieces by Jan\u00e1\u010dek: Nikoho tu nen\u00ed<\/em>, sung by Kudrj\u00e1\u0161 in K\u00e1t\u2019a Kabanov\u00e1<\/em>, and Vy, sta\u0159enko<\/em> sung by Laca in Jen\u016ffa<\/em>. He continued with well-known Biblical Songs<\/em> by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, including Hospodin jest
m\u016fj past\u00fd\u0159 <\/em>(The Lord is my Shepherd<\/em>) and concluded his recital with J\u00e1 ne\u0161t\u2019astn\u00edk<\/em> and Kdybych v\u011bd\u011bl<\/em> sung by Luk\u00e1\u0161 in Smetana\u2019s Hubi\u010dka <\/em>(The Kiss<\/em>). Sam\u2019s recital was most
expressive and well presented.
Max Bilbe<\/strong>, Sam Utley\u2019s accompanist, won the Accompanist\u2019s Prize (\u00a3300)<\/strong> which is sponsored by Lady Grenfell-Baines. In presenting the prize, Karel Janovick\u00fd commented that Max had researched the content of the songs particularly well, looking carefully at the words and cooperating skilfully with the singer to express their meaning in his accompaniment.

The Czech Song Prize (\u00a3500)<\/strong>, sponsored by Robert Hendra, was awarded to Nikola Uramov\u00e1<\/strong> from the Czech Republic, who has studied there as well as in Denmark, Italy and Germany. She has already launched her operatic career and for this competition the dramatic highlights of her recital were from Jan\u00e1\u010dek\u2019s opera Jen\u016ffa<\/em>, namely Kde to jsem?<\/em> and Zdr\u00e1vas kr\u00e1lovno<\/em> (Salve
Regina<\/em>).

It was a most enjoyable evening and many people attended despite difficult travel conditions and inclement weather. The adjudicators were Jarmila Karas (Founder of the Emmy Destinn
Foundation), Ludmila St\u00e1n\u011b (Manager of Velehrad), Karel Janovick\u00fd (Committee Member of the Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society) and Yvette Bonner (winner of the first competition in the year 2000). The standard was very high and so it took the panel a long time to reach their verdicts!

The winners were each presented with a white rose, Emmy Destinn\u2019s favourite flower, many of which she had received from a dashing young airman, Josef Halsbach, who was for several years her husband. Those who did not win prizes were given little presents made by Madelon Vriesendorp, adding a pleasing human touch to the evening. We are most grateful to Jarmila Karas for her excellent organisation of the whole competition, including a workshop in the summer, and to Ludmila St\u00e1n\u011b for her warm welcome and efficient management at Velehrad. We look forward to the next competition in 2023.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Susan Jenkinson<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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From left to right: Yvette Bonner (winner of the first competition in 2000 and adjudicator); Nikola Uramov\u00e1 (Czech Song Prize); Caroline Taylor (First Prize); Sam Utley (Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society Prize); Susan Jenkinson (Secretary of the Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society); Max Bilbe (Accompanist\u2019s Prize); Karel Janovick\u00fd (adjudicator and Committee Member of the Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society); Jarmila Karas
(Founder of the Emmy Destinn Foundation and adjudicator)<\/p>\n<\/div>

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Emmy Destinn Young Singers’ Awards 2019<\/strong><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

The Final of the 11th Emmy Destinn Young Singers\u2019 Competition was held at Velehrad in Barnes, South West London on 17th October 2019. The great Czech singer, Emmy Destinn (1878-1930) was the inspiration for the launch in London in 1998 of the foundation bearing her name, with the aim of promoting Czech opera and song and providing practical support to young singers.
There were six talented finalists: three sopranos, two tenors and a baritone, with their equally talented accompanists. All included two or more songs by Czech composers in their recitals.

The First Prize of \u00a32,000, sponsored by Velehrad, was awarded to the soprano Milly Forrest, who had studied at the Royal Academy and the Royal College of Music. Milly has recently also won the Patricia Routledge English Song Competition. For the Emmy Destinn Young Singers\u2019 Award, she sang Vendulka\u2019s \u2018Lullaby\u2019 from Smetana\u2019s \u2018The Kiss\u2019 and \u2018Ach, nen\u00ed tu\u2019 from Dvo\u0159\u00e1k\u2019s \u2018In Folk Tone\u2019, both in Czech. She commenced her recital in Italian with Ombre Pallide from Handel\u2019s \u2018Alcina\u2019, and concluded it humorously in German with \u2018Mein Herr Marquis\u2019 from \u2018Die Fledermaus\u2019.
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(l-r)Susan Jenkinson, Ludmilla St\u00e1n\u0115, Karel Janovick\u00fd, Jarmila Karas, Milly Forest, Yvette Bonner and Anton\u00edn St\u00e1n\u0115 (behind)<\/em>.

The winner of the Czech Song Prize of \u00a3500, sponsored by Robert Hendra, was the soprano, Katy Thomson, who had begun her career as an eight-year-old chorister at St Mary\u2019s Cathedral, Edinburgh, and is currently studying at the Royal College of Music Opera Studio. In Czech, Katy sang Ma\u0159enka\u2019s aria \u2018Ten l\u00e1sky sen\u2019 from Smetana\u2019s \u2018The Bartered Bride\u2019, one of Martin\u016f\u2019s \u2018Miniatures\u2019, \u2018Vesel\u00e9 diev\u010da\u2019, and two songs by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k: \u2018V tak mnoh\u00e9m srdci mrtvo jest\u2019 from his \u2018Love Songs\u2019 and \u2018Hospodin jest m\u016fj past\u00fd\u0159\u2019 from the \u2018Biblical Songs\u2019. She concluded her recital in Italian with Fiordiligi\u2019s aria \u2018Come scoglio\u2019 from Mozart\u2019s \u2018Cos\u00ec fan tutte\u2019.
The Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society for Czech and Slovak Music Prize was awarded to the tenor Mark Christian Bautista, born in the Philippines and currently studying at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. In Czech, his recital included music by Dvo\u0159\u00e1k, \u2018Vy vrouc\u00ed p\u00edsn\u011b sp\u011bjte\u2019 from \u2018Cypresses\u2019 and \u2018Kdy\u017e mne star\u00e1 matka\u2019 from \u2018Gypsy Songs\u2019, as well as Jen\u00edk\u2019s \u2018A\u017e uz\u0159\u00ed\u0161\u2026Jak mo\u017en\u00e1 v\u011b\u0159it\u2019 from Smetana\u2019s \u2018The Bartered Bride\u2019. In Italian, Mark Christian sang arias from Verdi\u2019s \u2018Rigoletto\u2019, and in German, \u2018Dein ist mein ganzes Herz\u2019 from Leh\u00e1r\u2019s \u2018The Land of Smiles\u2019.
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Mark Christian Bautista is in the photograph with Dvo\u0159\u00e1k Society Committee Members (left to righ) Karel Janovick\u00fd, Susan Jenkinson and Terry Heard.<\/em>

The Accompanist\u2019s Prize of \u00a3300, sponsored by Lady Milena Grenfell-Baines, was awarded to Raya Kostova, originally from Bulgaria, who has studied at the Royal Academy of Music and Trinity Laban.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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The great Czech singer, Emmy Destinn (1878\u20131930), was the inspiration for the launch in London in 1998 of the foundation bearing her name, with the aim of promoting Czech opera and song and providing practical support to young singers. Every two years, a Singing Competition is held in London. The Society awards a prize of … Continue reading Emmy Destinn Singing Competition<\/span> →<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"parent":0,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"","meta":{"advanced_seo_description":"","jetpack_seo_html_title":"","jetpack_seo_noindex":false,"jetpack_seo_schema_type":"","footnotes":""},"class_list":["post-1472","page","type-page","status-publish","hentry"],"jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1472","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/page"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1472"}],"version-history":[{"count":28,"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1472\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":11059,"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/pages\/1472\/revisions\/11059"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.dvorak-society.org\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1472"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}