Join us for the 5th Annual Williams-Howard Prize Concert at the Buxton International Festival. Established in 2022 by Michael Harper, Vocal Tutor at the Royal Northern College of Music, this prestigious competition celebrates art songs by composers of African heritage. The concert features the 2026 winners of the competition, showcasing the next generation of talent. Previous winners have gone on to perform at iconic venues such as the Royal Albert Hall, Cadogan Hall and Wigmore Hall, as well as with BBC Philharmonic, English Touring Opera, and Kantos Chamber Choir amongst others.
Colour my Song
Williams-Howard Prize Concert
Dates, times & booking
- Wed 22 Jul 2026 1.45pm - 2.35pm
Friends get priority booking on a staggered basis
About Friends Priority Booking
About Friends Priority Booking
Priority Booking
for BIF Friends
To book seats early, join the Friends of Buxton International Festival and become part of our ‘Festival Family’
Tickets are now on sale for La traviata, The Merry Widow and the Jazz Weekender
All other events are on general sale from 14 April 2026
Priority dates are:
17 March – Directors Circle, Benefactors and Gold Patrons
24 March – Patrons
31 March – Gold Friends
7 April – Friends
14 April – Public and Next Gen
Joining our community and becoming a BIF Friend unlocks a whole host of benefits, including priority booking for the festival.
From just £36 per year, become part of the festival you love all year-round.
- Priority booking for all festival events
- Six tiers of membership starting from just £36
- Regular newsletters during the year – via email/post
- Be the first to hear exclusive festival news & announcements
- Special friends events throughout the year: meals, dinners, recitals and more
- Support from friends members have enabled us to grow into one of the UK’s leading opera festivals
- Recognition of your support in the Festival Souvenir Programme Book
If you are under 35 you can join the Next Gen Friends for free, and access £5 tickets to book events and £10 tickets to all other events.





