Welsh Tenor Rhydian Jenkins is a 2023/24 Young Artist at the National Opera Studio. Hailing from Maesteg, South Wales, Rhydian graduated with Distinction from the David Seligman Opera School at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Rhydian was previously a 2022/23 Young Artist at the National Opera Studio and is under the tutelage of Nicky Spence and Adrian Thompson. A winner of the 2019 Bryn Terfel Scholarship and 2021 MOCSA Young Welsh Singer of the Year, roles include Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni (RWCMD), Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia (RWCMD), Peter Quint/Prologue in The Turn of the Screw (RWCMD), Alfred in Die Fledermaus (RWCMD), Basilio/Don Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro (RWCMD), Ruggero in La rondine (IF Opera), and Anthony Hope in Sweeney Todd (Buxton Opera House). His operatic scenes include Ferrando in Così fan tutte, Tamino in Die Zauberflöte, and Nadir in Les pêcheurs de perles. Rhydian was an Emerging Artist with Clonter Opera, performing scenes in their 2022 Spring Opera Showcase as the roles of Don Ottavio in Don Giovanni, Ferrando in Così fan tutte, and Fenton in Falstaff.
His 2022/23 season included performing the role of Sergei in Cherry Town, Moscow (Welsh National Opera). This summer, Rhydian made his debut at Longborough Festival Opera, performing the role of Snout/Fairy 3 from Purcell’s The Fairy Queen, followed by covering and performing the role of Spoletta from Puccini’s Tosca with Northern Ireland Opera.
During the 2022/23 residencies with the National Opera Studio at WNO, Opera North, Scottish Opera, and ENO, Rhydian performed roles from scenes including Count Almaviva in Il barbiere di Siviglia, Ernesto in Don Pasquale, Fenton in Falstaff, and Vašek in The Bartered Bride. Rhydian debuted at Wigmore Hall and at The Bridgewater Hall, performing in concert with The Hallé Orchestra. Rhydian also participated in the Royal Opera House masterclass led by international tenor Gregory Kunde.
In 2021, Rhydian performed in the RWCMD Opera Gala, conducted by Maestro Carlo Rizzi and accompanied by WNO Orchestra, performing scenes as Nemorino in L’Elisir d’Amore, Tom Rakewell in The Rake’s Progress, Fenton in Falstaff, and Don Ramiro in La Cenerentola. As a concert soloist, he has performed at venues including The Royal Albert Hall, Wales Millennium Centre, Cadogan Hall, and St David’s Hall.
Rhydian has been fortunate to have participated in masterclasses led by established singers including Gregory Kunde, Gerald Finley, Susan Bullock CBE, Dame Anne Murray DBE, Della Jones, and Donald Maxwell.
Upcoming engagements include performing the role of Vittorio in a world premiere of Marianna Bottini’s Elena e Gerardo with Random Opera Company this autumn.
Updated July 2023. This biography should not be reproduced without asking permission from the National Opera Studio.