2018 Awardee: Michael Gibson
"Thanks to the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to not only to complete my studies, but also begin preparing and planning the next steps in my development as a professional singer."
Biography
Glasgow born tenor, Michael Gibson, started singing at the age of 14 after much encouragement from his music teachers at Boclair Academy. It was due to their influence that Michael decided initially to follow a career as a music teacher, and went on to omplete a Bachelor of Education in Music at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, graduating in 2015.
During his time at RCS, Michael studied with both Gordon Wilson and Alan Watt. After completing his probationary teaching year in 2016, Michael decided to pursue his passion for performing. He gained a place to study for a Masters at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester, and continued on to an Advanced Postgraduate Diploma with Peter Alexander Wilson.
Michael’s operatic roles include Rinuccio (Gianni Schicchi) and Le Prince Charmant (Cendrillon) at the RNCM and Tamino (Die Zauberflöte) in a semi-staged production at Shrewsbury School. In opera scenes he has performed the roles of Jaquino (Fidelio), Fenton (Falstaff), Lyonel (Martha), Tom Rakewell (The Rake’s Progress), Don Ottavio (Don Giovanni) and Fritz (L’amico Fritz). Michael was also a member of Buxton International Opera’s Young Artist Programme in 2018.
Michael’s concert engagements include Finzi Dies Natalis with the Lindsay Chamber Orchestra and the Mozart Requiem with Cantores Salicium in Bolton Abbey, Yorkshire. He regularly performs at gala concerts, both in the UK and in Europe.
In 2019, Michael joins the chorus of Glyndebourne opera festival for their productions of Il barbiere di Siviglia and La damnation de Faust. Following this, he commences further studies at the Royal College of Music’s opera school in London.
How the Award Helped
Michael’s Dewar Award supported him in completing his Advanced Postgraduate Diploma at the Royal Northern College of Music.
"Thanks to the support of the Dewar Arts Awards, I am able to not only to complete my studies, but also begin preparing and planning the next steps in my development as a professional singer."