GSA's Courtney Bowman wins 2016 Sondheim Society student performer plaudit

Guildford School of Acting student Courtney Bowman has been named the 2016 Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year.

The inaugural winner of the MTI Stiles and Drewe Mentorship Award was also announced at a West End gala, as was the annual Stiles and Drewe prize for best new song.

Bowman was one of 12 finalists competing for the £1,000 prize, which was judged by a panel including lyricist Don Black, director Thea Sharrock, and actors Anne Reid, Julia McKenzie and Sophie-Louise Dann.

Jason Carr, Paul Hart and Lotte Wakeham also sat on the judging panel, which was chaired by writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson.

Bowman performed Me and My Town from Sondheim’s Anyone Can Whistle and The Driving Lesson from Heart of Winter by Tim Connor.

Eleanor Jackson was named runner-up, performing Sunday in the Park With George, from Sondheim’s musical of the same name, and More to Life by James Burn.

Connor’s song Back to School, from his musical Heart of Winter, was awarded the Stiles and Drewe prize for best song as part of the event, held at the West End’s Novello Theatre and hosted by Julian Ovenden.

Connor won £1,000 to put towards developing his work.

The ceremony also saw the first winner of the MTI Stiles and Drewe Mentorship Award announced.

Winners Darren Clark and Rhys Jennings, writers of The Wicker Husband, will receive 12 months of mentorship and support as part of the prize, which is supported by Music Theatre International (Europe).