The 57th prestigious Kathleen Ferrier vocal competition, held in memory of the great British contralto, broke new ground at Wigmore Hall on Friday by awarding two prizes to the same singer. Soprano Natalya Romaniw started off by winning the competition's Song Prize of £4,000, awarded specifically for song interpretation. Several minutes later, to her own and the audience's surprise, she was awarded the First Prize as well (£10,000). 

Born in Swansea of Ukrainian ancestry, Romaniw (pictured right) trained at the Guildhall School of Music in London, and will join Houston Grand Opera's Young Artist Program this August. To add to the novelty of their selection, the Ferrier jury shared the Second Prize of £5,000 between two finalists: soprano Ruth Jenkins and baritone Ben McAteer. The Accompanist's Prize (£3,000), endowed by the Musicians Benevolent Fund, was won by Craig White.

The competition, held annually, is open to singers under 29 of any nationality, who have studied in the British Isles for at least a year.