Kadoorie Music Cups 2024

These are the top solo music prizes at Clifton (named after the benefactor of the original silver tureen cup), previous recipients including actor Michael Redgrave (1926), conductor Sir David Willcocks (1937 and 1938) and operatic bass-baritone Christopher Purves (1976).

In 2024 the competition was in two rounds.

In the Junior Section (Years 9-11), for the instrumental category we enjoyed excellent performances from flautists, a violinist, organist, and several pianists – with the first prize to pianist Kate in Year 9 (Mozart’s A minor piano sonata and a Revutsky Prelude); for the vocal category, 6 singers ranged across sacred, popular and music theatre style, with the first prize to Hannah singing Laufey’s smokey version of ‘Misty’.

In the Senior Section (Sixth Form), for the instrumental category, there were exceptional items on concert harp, cello, violins, drums and organ, with joint first prize to Jude (Bach’s Organ Prelude in B minor, organ) and Sophie (Glazunov’s Violin Concerto); for the vocal category items ranged from Purcell and Mendelssohn to Kurt Weill and Frank Sinatra, with first prize to Florence with the virtuosic cabaret song ‘The Girl in 14G’ – an exceptionally rich programme from all the pupils.

Well done to all for a breath-taking and frequently emotionally moving music-making.

(Click on an image below to expand the gallery.)