Milly Willows wins the STEPHEN SONDHEIM SOCIETY Student Performer of the Year 2023 competition

Photo credit: David Ovenden

Milly Willows from Swansea, who is currently in her third year at Italia Conti, beat off stiff competition to be named the Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year.

Singing ‘The Worst Pies in London’ from Sweeney Todd, and ‘A Story of My Own’ from Michael Webborn and Daniel Finn’s The Clockmaker’s Daughter, she was crowned last night at the end of a hotly contested West End sing-off final at the Sondheim Theatre.

Milly was presented with the £1,000 first prize by Sondheim legend, Julia Mckenzie, and will now headline her own Sondheim-infused cabaret in London.

The runner up was The Royal Academy of Music’s Emily Botnen, who scooped £500 with ‘Everybody Loves Louis’ from Sunday in the Park With George, coupled with ‘Watchin’ the Door’ by Caroline Wigmore and Jen Green.

Judges’ chair Edward Seckerson singled out RAM’s Icelandic entrant Pétur Svavarsson and Guildford School of Acting’s Harry Warburton for honourable mentions.

The 12 finalists were tasked with singing a Sondheim song of their choice and a song submitted by New UK Musicals.

Chair of The Stephen Sondheim Society, Craig Glenday, said: “I’m so proud of what all of these young performers achieved on the Sondheim stage in the Final. The talent on offer was exceptional. I know the judges struggled to find fault with any of the Sondheim performances. But it’s often the second song that nails it for the judges. Milly’s performance had the audience in fits of laughter with her characterful performance of ‘Worst Pies’ but she wisely chose to balance this with a song with a completely different vibe, really showcasing her range and versatility as a performer. To be fair, all of the finalists this year did exactly this, but the contrast between Milly’s two songs, and simply the polish of her performance, sealed the deal. A worthy winner!”

Congratulations to Molly and all of the finalists!