We are delighted to announce the Stiles + Drewe Best New Song 2023 first prize been awarded to Rachel Walker Mason and Nina Sundstrom for their song ‘Drowning Without Water’ from The Circle. The song was performed at the Song Prize final held at The Other Palace by Renée Lamb.
The Voice, Vision and Potential Award was awarded to Geraint Owen for his song ‘BIO’ from Queerway which was performed by Caroline Sheen.
Huge congratulations to the award winners and to all the finalists.
Rachel Walker Mason (music and lyrics) is a GRAMMY member, recipient of a prestigious British Citizen Award for contribution to the arts and hailed “an inspiration” by Prince Harry.
Rachel is a multi-award-winning musician writing songs with Grammy, Emmy and Ivor Novello award winners, The Voice UK and American Idol alumni, Oscar, MOBO and BRIT Award nominees.
Rachel is also a mentor for Help Musicians, an author, an international vocal and song writing judge and patron of a mental health charity in Somerset.
Nina Sundstrom (music and lyrics) is a songwriter who received the Strive award from the Roundhouse Songwriters Circle, recognising promising songwriting talent.
Nina has worked on music for film & TV, including international perfume campaigns for Rochas Paris. Nina recently completed a working trip to Nashville where she was recommended for and engaged in songwriting sessions with more than twenty collaborators.
She has written with: Danny O’Donoghue (The Script), Jamie Lawson, Benjamin Francis Leftwich, Brooke Alex, Hannah Grace & more.
Best known for originating the role of Catherine Of Aragon in the multi-award winning SIX, Renée Lamb recently originated the leading role of Jeanne in Drew McOnie’s Cake, a retelling of the story of Marie Antoinette that sparked a revolution, set in 18th Century France.
Previous stage credits include the original casts of Fantastically Great Women Who Changed The World, Be More Chill, Emma Rice’s award winning Malory Towers, Ain’t Misbehavin’ and Little Shop of Horrors for Regents Park.
On screen Renée played the regular role of Ulrika in Still So Awkward (BBC) and made her film debut in This Is The Night Mail. Renée will next be seen in the 6 part BBC series This Town penned by Steven Knight.
Geraint Owen (music and lyrics): is a composer, writer, musical director and pianist from Cardiff.
As composer: Queerway (Wales Millennium Centre/Welsh tour); Rust (Edinburgh Fringe – Best Musical Award Winner). As Musical Supervisor/Director: Branwen: Dadeni (Wales Millennium Centre/Welsh tour). As Associate Musical Director: Love Never Dies (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); My Fair Lady (London Coliseum/UK & Ireland tour).
As a pianist and keyboardist, Geraint has played at several West End venues and major playhouses across the UK.
@geraintllyrowen
Caroline Sheen’s theatre credits include: 9 To 5 The Musical (Savoy); City of Angels, Into the Woods (Donmar Warehouse); Putting it Together (St James); Rags (Lyric); Les Misérables (Palace/Queen’s), Mary Poppins (UK/US Tour; Helen Hayes Award); The Light in the Piazza (Leicester Curve); Dick Whittington (Barbican); Once in a Lifetime, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum (National); Chitty Chitty Bang Bang (London Palladium); The Witches of Eastwick (Theatre Royal Drury Lane); Mamma Mia! (Prince Edward); Grease (Cambridge/Victoria Palace); Camelot, Under Milk Wood, Crazy for You (Watermill); Kiss Me Kate (Kilworth); Only the Brave (Wales Millennium Centre).
Here film credits include: Four Kids and It, Nativity Rocks, Les Misérables
Television credits: The Way; The Mallorca Files; The Sister Boniface Mysteries: The Book of Shadows; Ghosts; Silent Witness; Pitching In; The Rook; Press; Henry VIII Mind of a Tyrant; Doctors; Torchwood; Hotel Babylon.
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