The Oratorio Society of New York has announced the winners of the 49th Annual Lyndon Woodside Oratorio-Solo Competition.

British-Chinese tenor Philippe Durrant took first place, receiving the Robert E. Ludwig Award, while soprano Haeyeon Lee claimed second place and the Meyerson/Zwanger Award. Mezzo-soprano Devony Smith earned third place and the Janet Plucknett Award.

Bass-baritone Matthew Dexter received the Watson Family Award, while mezzo-soprano Veronica Roan received the William Grogan Award. Tenor Ryan Lustgarten was the recipient of the Robert & Winifred Connelly Green Award and soprano Melanie Spector took home the Leopold O. Damrosch Award. Finally, soprano Erinn Sensenig received the Oratorio Society Community Prize.

The Finals were held on April 18, 2026 at Carnegie Hall’s Weill Recital Hall. Pianist Amir Farid accompanied all competitors.

Past laureates of the competition include countertenor Jakub Jozef Orlinski, soprano Jacquelyn Stucker, bass-baritone Davóne Tines, mezzo-soprano Sasha Cooke, and baritone Brian Mulligan, among many others.

Founded in 1873 by Leopold Damrosch, the Oratorio Society of New York is one of the oldest musical organizations in the United States and has performed at Carnegie Hall since helping to inaugurate it in 1891 under the direction of Pyotr Tchaikovsky.

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