For the outstanding quality and scope of the performances and work in any context of an individual singer in the UK between January 2018 and June 2019.

Nina Stemme – soprano

Panel citation: As Brünnhilde in Wagner’s Ring Cycle at the Royal Opera, Nina Stemme gave one of the all-time great performances of opera’s most formidable role. Definitive in its quality and humanity, it is remarkable that artists may yet set a new benchmark for such an iconic character – and this represents the pinnacle of her returning regularly to UK shores to sing Wagner here.

Also shortlisted:
 

• Carolyn Sampson – soprano
   
• Elaine Mitchener – vocalist

The 2019 Singer Award was decided by an independent panel drawn from across the music profession comprising:

• Anna Picard, writer
• James Clutton, Director of Opera, Opera Holland Park
• Joseph Middleton, pianist / Director, Leeds Lieder
• Sara Mohr-Pietsch, broadcaster, writer and curator
• Toby Spence, tenor