Originally hailing from the Ribble Valley in Lancashire, British baritone Jack Bowtell, graduated his undergraduate BMus in Vocal Performance in July 2018, from The Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama in Cardiff. After progressing on to The David Seligman Opera School, under the tutelage of Donald Maxwell, Jack graduated in July 2020 with distinction in MA Advanced Operatic Performance.

Jack has had the pleasure of performing in masterclasses for a number of notable singing tutors and coaches including: Adrian Thompson, Susan Bullock, John Fisher, Michael Pollock, Ingrid Surgenor, Joseph Middleton and Simon Lepper.

Jack made his operatic debut in 2016, performing the role of Willi Graf in Welsh National Youth Opera’s critically acclaimed production of Kommilitonen! by Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, directed by Polly Graham and conducted by Alice Farnham. In 2019 Jack returned to Welsh National Opera to make his company debut as ‘Second Prison Guard’ in Dead Man Walking by Jake Heggie which featured as part of WNO’s 2019 ‘Freedom’ Season. For the last two years, Jack has been fortunate enough to join Maestro Carlo Rizzi and the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera for the annual RWCMD Winter Opera Gala where most recently, Jack joined fellow David Seligman Opera School alumni in celebrating the 70th anniversary of the founding of the college.

Other operatic roles include, Pinellino – Gianni Schicchi (Puccini), Mr. Gedge, The Vicar – Albert Herring (Britten) and more recently Guglielmo – Così fan tutte (Mozart). Other covers and scene performances include Abraham Kaplan – Street Scene (Weill), Marcello – La Bohème (Puccini) and Figaro – Le nozze di Figaro (Mozart).

In addition to opera, Jack regularly appears as a concert and oratorio soloist across England and Wales, and has featured in several recordings and live broadcasts for BBC Radio 3 and BBC Radio Wales. Recent concert highlights have included joining the RWCMD Symphony Orchestra and Chorus as the bass soloist for Fauré’s Requiem at St David’s Hall, under the baton of David Jones. This special concert, ‘And the Sun Stood Still’ featured alongside a wide array of concerts, exhibitions and events to commemorate RWCMD’s 70th Anniversary.

Prior to graduation, Jack served as a Student Scholar of the BBC National Chorus of Wales, alongside artistic director Adrian Partington. Whilst at the BBC, Jack had the opportunity to perform under the baton of several internationally renowned conductors such as Sir Karl Jenkins and Sir Martyn Brabbins, regularly featuring on BBC radio and television broadcasts for BBC Proms, Songs of Praise and entertainment programmes such as Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience. A personal highlight for Jack, was singing twice for the Welsh Rugby Union at the Principality Stadium, once as part of a RBS Six Nations international match and latterly as part of the WRU Rugby World Cup dinner.

Listed amongst Jack’s awards and competition successes are The Eileen Price Prize For Lieder Singing, The Webber Trust Scholarship, The Leverhulme Trust Scholarship, The RWCMD Friends Connect Bursary and the Mario Lanza Educational Foundation.

Jack is a registered student member of the Musicians Union.

Music Qualifications & Achievements:

Qualifications:

• MA ADVANCED OPERA PERFORMANCE (DISTINCTION) / The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama / 2018–2020
• BMUS VOCAL PERFORMANCE (2:1) / The Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama / 2014–2018
• ABRSM GRADE 8 SINGING (MERIT) / GRADE 5 THEORY / 2013-2014
• A-LEVEL (A*, A, B, B) / Clitheroe Royal Grammar Sixth Form / 2010–2012
• GCSE (A*, A, A, A, A, A, A, A, B) / Bowland High School / 2005–2010

Awards:

• The Eileen Price Prize For Lieder Singing
• The Webber Trust Scholarship
• The Leverhulme Trust Scholarship
• The RWCMD Friends Connect Bursary
• The Mario Lanza Educational Foundation