New Elizabethan Award (for guitarists and lutenists)
A biennial award for classical guitarists and lutenists for the performance of solo and/or ensemble music, written by composers from the two Elizabethan ages.
The award has a total value of £15,000 and is generously sponsored by David & Sandra Brierwood, Michael Beverley and the Kathleen Hannay Memorial Charity.
On 9th July the Selection Round of the Company’s fifth New Elizabethan Award took place at the Royal Academy of Music.
The Panel comprised Julian Anderson CBE (composer), Paula Chateauneuf (lutenist), James Gilchrist (tenor), Paul Galbraith and Helen Sanderson (guitarists), and Andrew West (pianist/concert promoter), with Michael Lewin (Pastmaster) as non-voting chairman.
Of the eight performances, five were given by solo guitarists and the other three by a guitar and mezzo-soprano duo, a theorbo/lute and soprano duo, and an ensemble of lute/guitar, theorbo, recorder, bass viol and soprano.
It was a fascinating day of music-making and the Panel found, without exception, outstanding qualities in each performance.
The performer whom the Panel finally selected to hold the New Elizabethan Award for 2026/27 is Tohi Harada guitar. Tohi will present the NEA’s Wigmore Hall Showcase at 1 p.m. on Saturday 13th February 2027 and a series of further concerts at prestigious venues.