Alumni Nominated for Times Breakthrough Award

RNCM alumni Jennifer France and Mark Simpson have been nominated for a 2016 Times Breakthrough Award.

Forming part of the annual South Bank Sky Arts Awards, The Times Breakthrough category offers readers the chance to vote for their favourite artist from 10 areas of the arts, including opera, classical, film, dance, literature, film and comedy.

Soprano Jennifer, who graduated in 2010, is this year’s opera representative, recognised for her ‘scene-stealing turns’ in Flight at Holland Park Opera (pictured above), Gianni Schicchi at Opera North, and Ariodante at Scottish Opera. Composer and clarinettist Mark – a former Junior RNCM student who is currently the BBC Philharmonic’s Composer in Association – flies the classical flag thanks to his oratorio The Immortal, described by The Times as ‘the most thrilling new choral work for years.’

Voting for this year’s award is now open here and closes at midnight on Friday 6 May. The winner will be announced at the main South Bank Sky Arts Award ceremony on Sunday 5 June.

22 March 2016