Rigby Edwards is runner-up

Georgia Blessitt from Leeds, studying at the Royal Academy of Music, has won this year’s Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year.

She was crowned last night at the Sondheim Theatre in London, collecting a prize of £1,000 and the chance to headline her own Sondheim-infused cabaret.

Runner-up was Rigby Edwards from Liverpool, a third year BA Musical Theatre student from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. She receives £500.

The 12 finalists were: Hasia Akwaboah (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Sophie Anne Baker (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Georgia Blessitt (RAM – Royal Academy of Music), Becky Bush (RADA – Royal Academy of Dramatic Art), Maria Collins (Arts1), Jamie Cushion (Trinity Laban), Rigby Edwards (Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama), Hudson Harden Scheel (Royal Conservatoire of Scotland), Georgie Lagden (RAM – Royal Academy of Music), Ella McLaughlin (Emil Dale), Lotte Pearl (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School), Nimi Spiff (Mountview Academy of Theatre Arts). Reserves were: Jess Pratley (Arts Educational Schools) and Dominic Wood (Laine Theatre Arts).

Each of the finalists were required to sing one song with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, plus a new song chosen by them from a selection presented by New UK Musicals. It was the express wish of Mr Sondheim that for every one of his songs selected by the finalists, a new song is performed, in order to encourage and support the creation of new work.

New UK Musicals is an organisation founded by Darren Clark, composer of the Olivier Award-winning The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, to showcase the UK’s best new musical-theatre writing.

This year’s final was hosted by Olivier Award nominee Rosalie Craig, the Chair of Judges was Jenna Russell, and Musical Director Nigel Lilley chose the 12 finalists with two students held in reserve from over 300 submissions.

The judging panel also included Darren Clark, Clare Foster, Nigel Harman, Catherine Jayes and Laura Pitt-Pulford. The Final was directed by Hannah Chissick and featured an ensemble from the National Youth Music Theatre.

Craig Glenday, Chairman of The Stephen Sondheim Society, which is a charitable trust founded in 1993, said in a statement: “Georgia was the first student the judges heard in the heats stages, and it was clear from the beginning that she would be the one to beat. She made a really brave choice to sing ‘Losing My Mind’ from Follies – such a well known and well loved song – but pulled it off flawlessly. The contrast with her second song – ‘Watchin’ the Door’ by Wigmore & Green – allowed Georgia to showcase her range and versatility. A well deserved winner.”

Stephen Sondheim shows currently playing in London include Here We Are at the National Theatre (until 28 June 2025). Coming up is a new production of Sondheim’s Into the Woods at the Bridge Theatre (2 December 2025 to 18 April 2026), directed by Jordan Fein.

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Main photo: Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year. Winner Georgia Blessitt (right) and runner up Rigby Edwards. Photo by Ian Bowkett

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