RSC Sets Shakespeare Song Competition Finalists, Public Voting Now Open

Today the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) announces the seven finalists and opens the public vote for the Shakespeare Birthday Song Competition. 100 entries were received from UK professional and amateur composers, who all created a new musical composition, setting the words from one of Shakespeare's much loved songs to music.

The competition finalists are:

Kieran Buckeridge from Bath, with "You spotted snakes" from A Midsummer Night's Dream

Jonathan Fletcher from Stratford-upon-Avon, with "Orpheus with his lute" from Henry VIII

Ella Grace from West London, with "O Mistress Mine" from Twelfth Night

Greg Harradine from Surrey, with "When that I was and a Little Tiny Boy" from Twelfth Night

TJ Holmes from Kent, with "Sigh No More, Ladies" from Much Ado About Nothing

Josh Sneesby from London, with "Under The Greenwood Tree" from As You Like It

Matt Winkworth from Oxford, with "Full Fathom Five" from The Tempest

Listen to the finalist songs and vote for your favourite here: www.rsc.org.uk/whats-on/events/shakespeares-birthday-celebrations/song-competition/

The public vote is open between 10am on Thursday 9 April and closes at 1pm on Thursday 16 April. The winning song will be announced in time for Shakespeare's birthday on 23 April 2015 and performed at 'Shakespeare's Birthday Bash' on Sunday 26 April 2015 at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre.

The finalists were blindly selected by RSC Head of Music Bruce O'Neil, who said:
'We have received many fantastic entries for the competition, which has been double-edged - it's been a pleasure to hear such a diverse and high quality selection of songs, but really hard to narrow down the choice for the final shortlist! I hope everyone enjoys hearing them as much as I have.'

To learn more about the RSC's music department visit: www.rsc.org.uk/explore/music/.