Biography

Education

William Robert Allenby studied at the Royal Academy of Music and the RSAMD winning prestigious scholarships and awards at both establishments. More recently he studied with Michelle Wegwart and with the recently late American baritone, Theodor Uppman in New York. In 2008 he recieved coaching from Gerald Martin Moore and John Pryce-Jones. He is currently recieving repertoire coaching with Michael Pollock.

Awards/ Prizes

William has been the recipient of a number of prestigious awards and prizes including;

• Associated Board 3 Year Entrance Scholarship (RAM)
• Peter Mooney Scholarship for singing (RSAMD)
• Wil Forge Foundation Award (RSAMD)
• Bayreuth Bursary Competition (Runner-up)
• In 2002 he was the recipient of the Concordia Barthel Prize for Excellence.

Biography

William Robert Allenby studied at the Royal Academy of Music and at the RSAMD where he was the recipient of various prestigious scholarships & awards. More recently he studied with Michelle Wegwart and Theodor Uppman in New York.

William gained early experience singing with Scottish Opera, Opera North and the D’Oyly Carte Opera before performing roles in LA TRAVIATA, ARABELLA and EUGENE ONEGIN for Glyndebourne Opera. He has appeared regularly on Channel 4 TV and at the BBC Proms. He has sung in Belgium, Holland, France, Italy, Spain, Iceland, Australia, Asia and in the UK. He has sung Sacristan TOSCA, Dr Wilhelm Reischmann ELEGY FOR YOUNG LOVERS, Stagehand THE MAKROPULOS CASE and Pish-Tush THE MIKADO and covered Barney Bagnal in the World Premiere of THE SILVER TASSIE, Black Minister LE GRAND MACABRE and Dulcamara L’ELISIR D’AMORE for English National Opera and also sang Marcello LA BOHEME for the ENO Bayliss Project. Further performances include Monterone RIGOLETTO, L'Alcade and Surgeon LA FORZA DEL DESTINO, Zandonai FRANCESCA DA RIMINI, Assan in Simon Callow’s THE CONSUL and Rambaldo LA RONDINE all for Opera Holland Park in London, Sacristan and Sciarrone TOSCA for The Opera Project, Dr Bartolo THE BARBER OF SEVILLE and Antonio THE MARRIAGE OF FIGARO for Iford Arts, Germont Pere LA TRAVIATA for Buxton Opera House, The Constable HUGH THE DROVER for New Sussex Opera, Araspe TOLEMEO for Musiktheater Transparent, Antwerp, Morales CARMEN for Opera Ireland, Alfio CAVALLERIA RUSTICANA for Saigon Opera House and Vietnamese National TV and Marullo RIGOLETTO at the Bermuda Festival. In contemporary music he has sung Teacher DER JASAGER, Judge Parke in the World Premiere of Will Todd’s THE BLACKENED MAN, Duke of Cornwall in Toshio Hosakawa’s VISION OF LEAR, both at the Linbury Studio, ROH, Covent Garden and Title Role in Alexander Goehr’s THE BLIND MAN at the ADC Theatre, Cambridge.

Concert engagements have included FAURE REQUIEM with the London Philharmonic Orchestra and Choir, Handel’s MESSIAH at St Mary’s Cathedral in Edinburgh and with the Halifax Choral Society, CARMINA BURANA and BELSHAZZER’S FEAST at the Ulster Hall, Belfast, the Durufle and Brahms REQUIEMS and Haydn’s SEASONS. He has also appeared at some of the world’s leading Early Music Festivals (including festivals in Holland, Italy, France and Antwerp) with the renowned Italian music ensemble Mala Punica, under the direction of Pedro Memelsdorff. Other concert appearances have included engagements with BBC Concert Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra, Royal Philarmonic Orchestra, RTE Concert Orchestra and Philarmonic Orchestra of Gran Canaria. William is also a regular soloist and recording artist for BBC Radio and has been a regular star singer on the BBC’s longest running light-music programme on BBC Radio 2, ‘Friday Night is Music Night’.

Performances in the 2011/12 season include Dulcamara L’ELISIR D’AMORE for English National Opera and both Bartolo IL BARBIERE DI SIVIGILIA and Somarone BÉATRICE ET BÉNEDICT for Welsh National Opera. Future performances include touring with Mid Wales Opera and his debut at the Royal Opera, Covent Garden.