Festival announces prize winner

Singer-songwriter, Angeline Morrison, has been declared the winner of the Christian Raphael Prize 2022 in association with the Cambridge Folk Festival. Angeline weaves a completely unique folk soundscape; believing in the inherent beauty of sad songs, she takes her inspiration from black lives and experiences going back centuries within the British Isles.

Winner of the Cambridge Folk Festival I Christian Raphael Prize 2022, singer-songwriter Angeline Morrison is now the fourth recipient of one of the most significant competitions throughout the country, for key emerging talent in this genre of music.

Cambridge Folk Festival Manager, Rebecca Stewart said: “Angeline is something special and I am so pleased we all agreed and gave her the win. I’m excited to see where she goes from here and to her performance at Cambridge in 2023”.

Announced on the last night of the renowned four-day Festival in Cambridge, this unique prize, launched at the Festival in 2018, contributes £3,600 for a year towards the travel and marketing costs of touring, and/or time in a rehearsal space or recording studio. Also guaranteed, is a Showcase spot in the Club Tent at 2023’s Festival – one of five artists spotted ‘as ones to watch’ during the year – which leads to a slot on prestigious Stage 2 the following year.

Christian’s mother, Vicki Raphael said: “Christian, myself and our family greatly enjoyed being back at Cherry Hinton Hall and seeing live performances again. We were so struck with Angeline’s performance in The Den and her bringing to life of little-known stories. We congratulate her on her win and will watch her career keenly. We can’t wait to listen to her new album – snippets of which we heard at Cambridge Folk Festival as there are lots of interesting musicians involved.

‘The talent for the competition was so high and we congratulate not only our winner, but runner up Ceitidh Mac and all of the other 4 shortlisted artists. We will follow them all and wish everyone the best of luck!”

Previous winners are Mishra, Katherine Priddy and Nick Hart; Katherine Priddy’s success has included performing live on BBC Two at Glastonbury and also open the Main Stage on Sunday at Cambridge this summer.

Delighted at her win. Angeline Morrison said: "I'm so very honoured and so blown away to have been awarded the Christian Raphael Prize... I didn't even know I was nominated until the day before my set! All the artists were brilliant, so it really feels amazing to be picked out. This award will have a massive impact on my music making. Huge thanks from me to Christian Raphael and his family, and to Cambridge Folk Festival."

The shortlist for this year’s prize was drawn from a list put forward by bookers at the Festival’s renowned emerging talent stage, The Den and the judging panel were: Festival Manager Rebecca Stewart; Festival supporters Christian Raphael and Vicki Raphael; Development Manager, Amie Hoyland; Rebecca Stewart, Cambridge Folk Festival Manager and Richard Wootton, Roots Music Publicist.