Biography

Ronald Nairne is a bass baritone with a large talent. Kirkcaldy-born Ronald was accepted into the National Youth Choir of Scotland when he was 16 and was immediately cast as a soloist. With the choir he toured Sweden and performed in Chicago.

Ronald was a choral scholar at Paisley Abbey. He studied for his first degree and a postgraduate diploma in concert singing at the RSAMD, where he won the Frank Spedding Lieder Prize. He took part in several RSAMD opera productions. Ronald went on to postgraduate study in opera at the Royal Academy of Music and worked for a year with smaller operatic companies and performing a wide range of concert repertoire. While at the Academy he undertook the role of Sarastro in ‘The Magic Flute’ and created the role of the Mongolian Soldier in the London premiere of ‘A Night at the Chinese Opera’, by Scottish composer Judith Weir.

In 2005 Ronald was a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist and Sue Chilcott Scholar. In 2007 he was awarded a Samling Foundation scholarship to spend a week in masterclasses with Philip Langridge, Patricia McMahon and Paul Farrington. In June that year he sang the role of The Commendatore in Samling Opera’s production of ‘Don Giovanni’ directed by Sir Thomas Allen.

Ronald has been accepted into the prestigious National Opera Studio in Wandsworth, in preparation for a full-time career in opera. He possesses a real bass baritone, which is a rare commodity, and is considered to have a successful career in opera ahead of him.

How the Award Helped

The Dewar Arts Award will support Ronald during his year at the National Opera Studio.

Since the Award