Flautist Kendra Barron wins Junior Guildhall Lutine Prize 2024
Flautist Kendra Barron has been awarded First Prize at the final of Junior Guildhall’s most prestigious award: The Lutine Prize. Trombonist Ned Pettitt was awarded Second Prize.
The competition took place on Saturday 22 June in Milton Court Concert Hall. Kendra performed a winning recital of the first movement of Bach’s Sonata in E major, Henri Büsser’s Prelude et Scherzo and George Hüe’s Fantasie, accompanied by pianist Krystal Tunnicliffe.
The other finalists were: Jennifer Wells (violin), Iván Cherednichenko Carrillo (cello), Caelan de Senna Fernandes Godden (piano) and Dominic-Lucian Drutac (violin).
The adjudicators this year were cellist Jonathan Aasgaard, flautist Philippa Davies and conductor Dominic Wheeler, Head of Opera Studies at Guildhall School. The certificates were presented by Alison Mears, Director of Guildhall Young Artists.
2022 Lutine Prize Winner and Guildhall School undergraduate Daniel Hibbert performed with pianist Jane Beament during the panel deliberation.
Kendra Barron says: "I’m over the moon! I feel so lucky to have had the opportunity to play alongside such talented musicians in such a great venue. I had so much fun! I am very grateful to everyone at Junior Guildhall, in particular my teacher Lisa Nelsen who has done so much for me over the past few years."
Rosie Whitfield, Head of Junior Guildhall, says: “Congratulations to Kendra and Ned for outstanding performances on the night. This was an extraordinary final with an array of very special performances from finalists, highlighting the wealth and breadth of Junior Guildhall talent. Well done all!”
Congratulations to Kendra and all of our 2024 finalists!
About the Lutine Prize
The Lutine Prize is Junior Guildhall’s equivalent of the senior school’s annual Gold Medal competition. Six students were selected from the preliminary round to perform in the final, where they presented a 20-minute solo recital. The winner of the first prize is given the opportunity to perform a concerto with one of the Junior Guildhall ensembles in addition to a cash award.
The Lutine Prize was inaugurated in 1982 and Kendra joins a long line of winners, many of whom have enjoyed professional music careers, including composer Thomas Adès, and pianists Tom Poster and Annabel Thwaite.
About Kendra
Kendra is 18 years old and has been playing the flute since the age of ten. She has been attending Junior Guildhall and studying with Lisa Nelsen since 2022. Kendra plays principal flute for the Hertfordshire County Youth Orchestra, and has played in masterclasses with renowned flautists such as Lorna McGhee and Wissam Boustany.
Kendra has attended the Oxford Flute Summer School and the Scottish International Flute Summer School. She particularly enjoys French music.
Kendra also enjoys teaching the flute and plays the saxophone. Outside of classical music, she likes a good book.
Kendra will begin her undergraduate studies at Guildhall School of Music & Drama in September.
Events at Guildhall School
The Lutine Prize final is part of Guildhall School’s Summer Season of events, all of which are available to view on the School’s website.