Julien van Mellaerts (baritone) and Simon Lepper (piano)

New Zealand baritone Julien Van Mellaerts graduated from the Royal College of Music International Opera School, where he was a Fishmongers’ Company Scholar supported by a Toeman Weinberger Award. On graduation he was awarded the Tagore Gold Medal. He continues to study with Russell Smythe. Before moving to London, Julien studied music and languages at the University of Otago.

Julien has won first prize at the 2017 Wigmore Hall/Kohn Foundation International Song Competition. This follows on from his first prize in the 2017 Kathleen Ferrier Awards. Other awards include: the Kiwi Music Scholarship and a Countess of Munster Award for 2016/2017, he has also won the 2016 Joan Chissell Schumann Song Prize, the 2016 Brooks-Van Der Pump English Song Competition, and winner of the 2015 Maureen Lehane Vocal Awards at the Wigmore Hall.

Simon Lepper read music at King’s College Cambridge. He is a professor of piano accompaniment at the Royal College of Music, London where he also co-ordinates the piano accompaniment course. He is an official accompanist for BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition.

This concert is the club's contribution to Canterbury Festival.