Winner of 2026 Susan Tomes Music Prize announced

Established by renowned concert pianist and writer Susan Tomes (KC 1972), the Susan Tomes Prize for Music aims to recognise the positive impact that all forms of music have on the King’s community. In Lent Term nominations were invited from Fellows, staff and students who had been moved by a moment of music making by a student of the College. 

The winner of this year's Susan Tomes Prize is third year Natural Sciences student Daniel Guzman. The award was conferred by the Director of Studies in Music Professor Nick Marston and the winner received a cash prize and a signed copy of Susan’s book The Piano – A History in 100 Pieces.

Daniel was nominated for introducing many of his peers to classical music, and for “playing the most beautiful piano pieces” in his Bodley’s Court room. He is also constructing a harpsichord and has shared his passion for this instrument and some of his compositions with many across the College community. 

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Susan Tomes was the first woman to read music at King’s, arriving in 1972 as part of the first cohort of female undergraduates. She is one of the UK’s most renowned concert pianists and the author of eight books. Her most recent, Nocturnes and the Fascination of Night Music, is an engrossing history of the music of twilight and sleep, from the nocturnes of Field and Chopin to Max Richter.