Gillian McIlwraith - Mezzo Soprano
Scottish born Gillian McIlwraith studied at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where she graduated BMus (2:1) before completing the opera course.
In 1999 Gillian represented Scotland in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World competition. Other competition success includes winning the John Noble Bursary and the Carl Rosa Award. In 1996 she was a finalist for the Kathleen Ferrier Awards.
Prior to 2011, Gillian took some time away from the opera stage to teach singing and focus on her vocal training; she is now studying with Jennifer Caron. In 2011, she took part in a Masterclass with David Syrus.
Operatic roles include Euterpe in Gluck’s Il Parnaso Confuso with Bampton Classical Opera (2011); Ernestina in Rossini’s L’ocasione fa il Ladro with Opera Minima (2011); Tisbe in Rossini’s La Cenerentola with London Opera Productions (2011); Rosina in Il Barbiere di Siviglia for Opera Loki (2011), Castleward Opera, Mid-Wales Opera and Guildhall School of Music and Drama; Echo (cover) in Ariadne auf Naxos for Garsington Opera (2007); Fraarte in Radamisto for Opera North; Tamiri in Il re Pastore for the British Lebonese Association; the cover and performance of Dorabella in Cosi fan Tutte, The Musician in Manon Lescaut and Kate in Owen Wingrave for Glyndebourne Festival and Touring Opera as well as Celia in La Fedelta Premiata and Destiny in La Calisto for the Guildhall School of Music and Drama.
Gillian has sung as a soloist in Mahler’s Symphony no. 4 with the BBC Ulster Orchestra; Schubert’s Mass in Eb Major conducted by Peter Gelhorn; Rossini’s Stabat mater and Lutoslawski’s Five Songs for the Lutoslawski Festival at the Barbican. Gillian has sung in opera galas for HRH Prince Phillip and the Prime Minister of Gozo (Malta).
Gillian also teaches voice, flute and music theory.
Engagements for 2012 include singing the role of Dorabella in Mozart’s Cosi fan tutte with Swansea City Opera; Rosina in Rossini’s Il Barbiere di Siviglia with Opéra de Baugé and covering the role of Aminta in Garsington Festival Opera’s L’olimpiade by Vivaldi.