Charlotte English wins SSSSPOTY 2026

Charlotte English from BIRD Conservatoire wins the 18th annual STEPHEN SONDHEIM SOCIETY STUDENT PERFORMER OF THE YEAR competition Taziva-Faye Kastsande from BIRD Conservatoire was runner up Rosie Sutton from the University of Oxford was placed third.

Charlotte English from BIRD Conservatoire has been named Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year in the 18th annual singing competition, affectionately known as SSSSPOTY, held, fittingly, in the West End’s Sondheim Theatre. Her rendition of “I Read” from Passion secured her the title, a cheque for £1,000 and the chance to headline her own Sondheim-infused cabaret in London.

Taziva-Faye Kastsande, also from BIRD Conservatoire, was runner up performing “Last Midnight” from Into The Woods. She receives £500.

Rosie Sutton from the University of Oxford, singing “Getting Married Today” from Company received the first of a new 3rd prize of £250 donated in memory of critic and Stephen Sondheim Society member, Jeremy Chapman.

Chairman of the judging panel, Edward Seckerson, said it had been one of the closest ever contests.

Craig Glenday, Chair of The Stephen Sondheim Society, said:

“Charlotte was a very worthy winner in a contest packed with incredible competitors. The judges felt that Charlotte’s rendition of “I Read” from Passion was authentic and moving, and captured all of the complex nuances of this song and the character of Fosca. But it was also the longest time it’s taken the panel to agree on the top three. In a field this talented, the job of picking out winners is far from easy. Ultimately it was a wonderful afternoon of Sondheim that I hope honoured Steve’s memory.”

More than 350 video submissions were received for the contest, 81 of which qualified for a live, in-person audition with Chair of Judges Edward Seckerson, Musical Director Nigel Lilley (Here We Are and Follies, National Theatre) and guest judge Laura Pitt-Pulford (Follies in Concert, A Little Night Music in Concert, Marry Me a Little).

The 12 finalists selected were:

Ruby Decent (Bristol Old Vic Theatre School)

Charlotte English (Bird College)

Cait du Feu (Mountview)

Marcus Harman (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama)

Rebecca Hennessey (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama)

Róisín Holland (Emil Dale Academy)

Taziva-Faye Katsande (Bird College)

Samuel Louis Bennett (Trinity Laban)

Erica Schoebinger (Drama Studio London)

Josephine Shaw (Royal College of Music)

Rosie Sutton (University of Oxford)

Freddy Thompson (Trinity Laban)

Three reserves: Phoebe Graham (LAMDA), Nicholas McKeown (Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama) and Teddy Thompson (ArtsEd).

The students performed for a panel of highly respected West End performers and critics - Jenna Russell, a patron of The Stephen Sondheim Society, WhatsOnStage Best Supporting Actress Melanie La Barrie (currently The Witch in Into The Woods, previously Hadestown, Mary Poppins, & Juliet; Olivier-nominated actor Andy Nyman (The Producers, Hello, Dolly!, Assassins); Olivier-nominated actress and singer Rachel Tucker (Baker’s Wife in Into The Woods, previously Come From Away, The Last Ship, Hadestown); and renowned theatre critic Matt Wolf.

Each finalist was required to sing one song with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, plus a new song chosen by them from the selection at NEW UK MUSICALS - the organisation founded by the Olivier-Award-winning Benjamin Button composer Darren Clark to showcase the UK’s best new musical-theatre writing for the stage. 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.