The Nancy Carr Prize

Nancy Carr was a passionate music lover, devoted supporter of the Cossington Concerts series and an enthusiastic member of the Circle. The NANCY CARR GIFT, representing donations made by Nancy’s family and friends in her memory following her death in March 2010, has enabled Cossington Concerts both to offer free entry to series concerts to students up to the age of 19 and to establish an annual NANCY CARR PRIZE to recognise a young Somerset musician of outstanding potential.

The Nancy Carr Prize was inaugurated in October 2010 to further assist a previous holder of an award from the Fund for Young Musicians. The competitions take place annually in the Manor Music Room and are judged by outside experts.

The winner of the 2011 prize was the cellist Sarah Padday, of Shepton Mallet, is a student at the Menuhin School. The Fund for Young Musicians originally helped Sarah to acquire a new bow.

The winner of the 2011 prize was Sarah Padday shown right with Antony Carr and the judges Andrew Carter and Ben Curry.

The winner of the 2010 prize was the bassoonist Luke Tucker, of Stoke St Michael (Shepton Mallet), who is a student at the Royal College of Music. The Fund for Young Musicians helped Luke to purchase his instrument just before his music college auditions.

Luke Tucker with Jack Liebeck and Victoria Sayles