Richard Lewis Jeans Shanks Trust

Richard Lewis (1914-1990) was an internationally renowned tenor acclaimed for his mellifluous lyric voice, high standards of musicianship, impeccable diction and musical intelligence all during a career spanning over forty years.

In 1998 an award to celebrate Richard Lewis was created, generously endowed by the eminent pathologist Dr Jean Shanks. This charity, The Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks Trust now funds now one of the most prestigious and largest prizes for young singers.

Past winners

Richard Lewis Magic Flute Mozart

Richard Lewis publicity shot from the 1970s

Richard Lewis Magic Flute Mozart

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Elizabeth Muir-Lewis

Richard's widow, Elizabeth Muir-Lewis, has been instrumental in keeping his name alive and setting up the trust. Find out more.

marcus burton richard lewis jean shanks sponsorship

MARCUS BURTON: Recipient of the 2025 Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks sponsorship.

During early 2025 it was decided between the Trust and the Royal Academcy of Music (RAM) to take a rest from the annual singing competition for the Award and instead sponsor a promising young singer studying at the academy. Therefore the recipient of the 2025 Award is tenor Marcus Burton (main image). He is studying for a Master in Performance at the RAM but is already a seasoned performer singing regularly in The Netherlands at the famouss Concertgebau hall. The Trust is sup

Recordings

It was a golden era of recording for any singer on the international stage from the 1950s to the early 1980s and beyond and Richard's recording reflects this.
Find out more or listen to the clips below.

Samuel Coleridge-Taylor: Hiawatha's Wedding Feast

Handel - Air: Waft her, angels (from Jephtha) 1958

Monteverdi: L'Incoronazione di Poppea

Roberto Ortiz won the Richard Lewis/Jean Shanks prize in 2009 and has recently been in contact to tell us he's returned to Würzburg in Germany for his third season. This is to include singing Count Almaviva in the Barber of Seville, Paris in La belle Hélène and Brighella in Ariadne Auf Naxos.

Featured picture: Three Choirs Festival, 1951

Many thanks to Majory Collingwood, now aged 87, who sent us this picture she took of Richard at Worcester's Three Choirs Festival with some other famous faces.

(LtoR): Norman Walker, Isobel Baillie, David Willcocks, Mary Jarred and Richard.

Music Preserved's Sir Mark Elder talks about the artists and composers the organisation is cataloguing including Maria Callas, Benjamin Britten and Richard Lewis.

Letters

Read a selection of letters (being added to regularly) sent to Richard Lewis during his career including correspondence from famous names such as Luciana Pavarotti, Benjamin Britten, Michael Tippett and many others.