Soprano Rachel Munro and her pianist Jia Ning Ng have won the⁩ Northern Aldborough Festival 2025 New Voices Singing Competition.

The top prize winners received £5,000 and a paid recital at next year’s Northern Aldborough Festival alongside recitals, also paid through a donation from the Yorkshire Music Future Fund, at Leeds Lieder and Harrogate International Festivals.

The duo met at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland and became an official performing pair in 2024 and have since been entering major UK vocal competitions, as well as collaborating within the RCS.

In a statement regarding the two winners, Robert Ogden, director of Northern Aldborough Festival, said: “Rachel and Jia Ning made a wonderful partnership. Even though she was one of the youngest entrants, Rachel already displays remarkable vocal maturity and quality and is a composed performer. She found wonderful support in Jia Ning’s musical playing.”

Munro and Ng competed against Nikki Martin, accompanied by Esther Ersfeld, and Caroline Taylor, accompanied by Sebastian Issler, and Eiry Price with Iwan Owen on piano.

The 2025 judging panel featured Sir Thomas Allen, Dame Jane Glover, and pianist Sholto Kynoch.

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