York St John alumna wins at BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards

A former York St John University student has won one of the top awards at the BBC’s annual Folk Awards.

Bella Hardy was awarded Folk Singer of the Year at the Radio 2 awards ceremony, held at the Royal Albert Hall in London on Wednesday evening.

Bella graduated from York St John University in 2005 with a BA in English Literature.

The 29-year-old is currently in the USA, travelling with the English Folk Dance & Song Society to play at the Folk Alliance Conference in Kansas City.

On her return she will continue to travel around the UK as part of two tours – Hardy and Wilson and Carthy, Hardy, Farrell and Young. Hardy and Wilson is a double bill with Ross Wilson, also known as Blue Rose Code, while the foursome are four women folk singers; Eliza Carthy, Lucy Farrell and Kate Young, along with Bella. More details are available on her website.