Born in Hereford, Gwilym Bowen is currently studying at Royal Academy Opera under Ryland Davies and Jonathan Papp, having previously graduated from the University of Cambridge with a double-First class degree in Music. On the operatic stage, his diverse repertoire has included Pelléas in Pelléas et Mélisande, Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, Davey in Jonathan Dove’s Siren Song, Dwight/God in Jerry Springer: the Opera, Sailor in Dido & Aeneas, Intelletto in Emilio de’ Cavalieri’s Rappresentatione di anima e di corpo, Lysander in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Lucano & Primo Soldato in L’incoronazione di Poppea for the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme and Ryedale Festival Opera.
In new opera he has created the roles of Sergeant Troy in Barnaby Martin’s Far from the madding crowd, and the protagonists in two operas by Kate Whitley, Unknown Position and 0520, with performances at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, and the Cockpit and King’s Head theatres. Roles with RAO for the 2014-15 season include Gherardo in Gianni Schicchi, Sellem in The Rake’s Progress and HRH Prince Philippe in A Dinner Engagement.
Recent concert performances have included acclaimed Evangelists in both Bach Passions, the role of Sylph in Rameau’s Zaïs with the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment at the Queen Elizabeth Hall, Handel’s Israel in Egypt with the Holst Singers and the Brook Street Band at St John’s, Smith Square, Bach’s Weihnachts-Oratorium for Oxford Philomusica and Merton College Choir at the Sheldonian Theatre, the Johannes-passion in Poland with Die Kölner Akademie, Bach’s Mass in B Minor for Harrogate Choral Society, Britten’s Serenade for the Amersham Festival and Orchestra of St John, Bromsgrove, and, with Brouwen, the vocal/instrumental chamber group he co-directs, Bach’s cantatas and Handel Dixit Dominuswith upcoming performances including Handel’s Messiah for Stephen Layton & Polyphony at St John’s, Smith Square, performances with RAM’s flagship group for art song, Song Circle, and in the Kohn Foundation/RAM Bach Cantata Series.
Gwilym is hugely grateful for the support of the Josephine Baker Trust, the Elmley Foundation, the Clive Richards Charity, the Countess of Munster Musical Trust, and a Travelling Studentship from Trinity College, Cambridge.
