Fowke Recital Prize 2026
The Fleischner Theatre was filled with music and excitement last night as we celebrated this year’s Fowke Recital Prize – an evening showcasing the outstanding dedication and talents of our most accomplished Sixth Form musicians. We were once again delighted to welcome back internationally renowned concert pianist Philip Fowke (B67), who returned to Downside to adjudicate the competition and offer his invaluable insights to the performers.
The recital opened with an energetic and vibrant performance from Sacha, whose passion for drums has been evident since he first picked up his sticks at the age of five. His set included music by Dirty Loops, Hendrix and Black Sabbath, offering an exhilarating start to the evening.
Our second performer, Ryan, impressed the audience with his expressive vocal ability and love of musical theatre. A choral scholar and committed musician, Ryan performed works by Claude-Michel Schonberg and Andrew Lloyd Webber, supported by our accompanist Mr Chris Sheldrake.
Conrad followed with a poised and thoughtful piano recital, performing works by Beethoven and Stravinsky. His musicianship shone throughout, demonstrating a versatility that continues to enrich the department.
The final soloist of the evening was James, who will be taking up a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland next year to study vocal performance. James delivered a mature and captivating programme including Handel, Fauré, Vaughan Williams and Mozart.
After a short interval, the audience enjoyed performances from both the Jazz Ensemble and Close Harmony Group, adding further colour and variety to the evening before our adjudicator returned to the stage. Philip Fowke praised the commitment, stylistic awareness and performance skills demonstrated by each of the soloists.
The evening concluded with thanks to the instrumental and vocal teachers of our young performers, all the music staff who worked behind the scenes to make the event possible, and of course to Philip Fowke for returning to Downside to share his expertise and encouragement. A final presentation invited all performers back on stage to receive well-earned recognition for their achievements and to award James the Fowke Recital Prize.
We are grateful to our parents, families and friends for supporting such an inspiring celebration of musical excellence. We look forward to welcoming you back to next year’s Fowke Recital Prize.
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