Paul O'Neil tenor

Paul O'Neil was born in Melbourne. He received his secondary and tertiary education in Perth, studying at the WA Academy of Performing Arts. He is currently completing a Bachelor of Performing Arts (Classical) at the Academy.

Paul began his singing career in Musical Theatre performing leading roles in several productions, as well as appearing in a number of WAPPA productions. Paul played the solotenor role in Donizetti's Rita in the Perth International Arts Festival in 2003. He later recorded this performance for ABC Classic FM as well as his own solo recital.

With the University of WA Choral Society, Paul has sung solo tenor in Rossini's Petite Messe Solennelle, Handel's Ode on Saint Cecilia's Day and in the concert Choral Masterpieces. Paul has performed as a soloist in Perth Oratorio Choir's Elijah and has made his debut, as a soloist, with both the West Australia Symphony Orchestra and the Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra. He was a member of the WA Opera Chorus for three years and is currently a Young Artist with the Company*.

For Western Australian Opera, Paul has sung solo Tenor in Orff's Carmina Burana and the roles of 'Flavio' in Bellini's Norma, 'Monostatos' in Mozart's The Magic Flute and 'Don Ottavio' in Mozart's Don Giovanni.

Paul was a finalist in the 2004 Metropolitan Opera Awards, the Australian Singing Competition's Opera Awards and the 2004 Mathy Awards in which he received four prestigious scholarships.

In 2005 Paul was awarded Opera Foundation Australia's Covent Garden National Opera Studio Scholarship which enabled him to study for ten months at the National Opera Studio in London this year.

Future engagements with West Australian Opera include tenor soloist in Baby Grand Opera appearances and 'Gastone' in La traviata.

*The Young Artist Programme is supported by the WA Society of Opera Lovers.