Julia McKenzie will present the prizes at this year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year Competition, which will be judged by a panel including actors Maria Friedman and Jenna Russell.
The competition takes place on May 18 at the Garrick Theatre in London, with the finalists in the competition coming from 11 drama schools across the UK.
Now in their eighth year, the awards will see one of the finalists walk away with a £1,000 prize.
This year’s finalists are:
Hugo Catton from the Guildford School of Acting
Luke Francis from East 15 Acting School
Hayley Hampson from Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts
Stephanie Lyse from the Royal Academy of Music
Nicola Martinus-Smith from CPA Studios
Callum McIntyre from Bristol Old Vic Theatre School
Sam O’Hanlon from Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts
Corrine Priest from the London School of Musical Theatre
Katie Shearman from Arts Educational Schools
Tyler Smith from the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland
Jay Worley from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama
Monique Young from Arts Educational Schools
Each performer will sing a Sondheim number as well as a song that has been nominated for the Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize.
Previous winners of this prize include Gwyneth Herbert, who recently composed The A to Z of Mrs P, which has just completed a run at the Southwark Playhouse.
Sondheim said: “What’s significant about this competition is that it allows students to demonstrate their skills in story telling through song. Moreover, it allows the public to hear new writing voices as well as singing ones.”
Other judges at the event include David Lan and Edward Seckerson.
The Stiles and Drewe Best New Song Prize will be judged by George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, alongside composer Adam Guettel.
The ceremony will be hosted by David Bedella.