IMPORTANT NOTICE
The competition is now being run by the Southend Festival of Performing Arts. All applications are to be made via their online entry system: Southend Festival of Performing Arts. The new deadline for entry is 5th October 2024. Please refer to class 265 of their syllabus. All criteria for eligibility remain the same.
The competition will take place between 27th-30th November 2024, and the singing section administration team will contact competitors by email once the competition has been scheduled. We look forward to your entry.
Sir Teddy Taylor
The trustees were saddened to learn of the passing of the late Sir Teddy Taylor who was our patron for many years. He was always so supportive of our charity and of the competitors, appreciated their talent and recognised the benefit of the scholarship to the winners. He always attended the competition and fundraising concert and gave warm, heartfelt closing speeches. We are truly grateful for his support over the years.
Classical Singing Scholarship Competition
The Freda Parry Scholarship Fund holds an annual singing competition before a public audience in Southend-on-Sea, Essex every September.
Singing students, who are resident in the county of Essex, compete for a cash prize of £1500.
The trustees would like to thank Vivienne Cunningham for a donation of £1,000 from the Edna Head Award and thereafter £500 per annum. The Edna Head Competition, now part of Southend Music Festival, is designed for players of piano, violin, viola, cello, guitar, double bass, woodwind and brass instruments, who are at Grade 8 standard and 16 years or under. Entrants will be expected to demonstrate their skill by performing a programme of their choice. First prize £500 and Second prize £100.
Details of the Edna Head competition can be found here: 2024 Edna Head Award Competition.
Fundraising Concert
The Freda Parry Scholarship Fund holds a fundraising concert celebrating the previous year’s Scholarship winner and other local talents. The next concert will be on Saturday 5th April 2025 featuring Soprano Jessica Hope.
Gemma Wahl 2019 winner
Adjudicators Jena Pang, Vanessa Crocker and Sandra Gundy 2018
The last find raising concert 2023