Results of Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year

Twelve finalists from top drama schools across the UK competed for the title of this year's Stephen Sondheim Society Student Performer of the Year on Sunday 17th May at the Garrick Theatre, Each student sung a song by Stephen Sondheim and, a new musical theatre song at his personal request, written by members of Mercury Musical Developments and shortlisted for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize.

Erin Doherty was  this year's winner, performing "Broadway Baby" from Follies as her Stephen Sondheim Song and New Song "Angel at the Top of the Tree" written by Darren Clarke. The runner up of the 2015 competition was Leah West who sung "I Read" from Passion as her Sondheim Song and "Love Me" by Laura Kaye Thomson as her New Song.

The award for the Stiles & Drewe Best New Song Prize 2015 went to Richy Hughes and Joseph Finlay for "Don't Look Down from The Superhero", which was sung by finalist Grant McConvey. The runner up for The Best New Song Prize went to Darren Clark for "The Angel at the Top of the Tree", performed by 2015's winner Erin Doherty.

Patron of the Stephen Sondheim Society, Julia McKenzie presented the award at the afternoon which was T hosted by Michael Xavier, with a line up of judges including Elaine Paige, Laura Pitt-Pulford, director Jamie Lloyd, conductor and BBC Proms favourite John Wilson and writer and broadcaster Edward Seckerson. Composers and lyricists George Stiles and Anthony Drewe, and Pippa Cleary and Jake Brunger (writers of The Secret Diary of Adrian Mole at Curve Leicester) judged the Best New Song Prize.

The competition is now in its ninth year with a top prize of £1,000 for both the Student Performer and the writer of the Best New Song. The student runner-up will also receive a prize of £500. The event is produced by Martin Jackson and Victoria Saxton for Mercury Musical Developments and Craig Glenday for The Stephen Sondheim Society.