Ronan Collett read Music at Pembroke College, Cambridge where he sang as a choral scholar with St. John's College Choir. He subsequently studied with Noelle Barker and Iain Ledingham as on the Royal Academy of Music's Opera Programme, where he received the Royal Worshipful Company of Musician's Silver Medal. He was awarded a scholarship from the Countess of Munster Musical Trust and a Sybill Tutton 'Star Award'. He has also received a Scholarship from the Harold Hyam Wingate Foundation. Opera roles include the title role of Eugene Onegin for Iford Arts, Count Almaviva for Classical Opera Company, Morales for English National Opera, English Clerk in Death in Venice conducted by Martyn Brabbins, Aeneas with Gabrieli Consort, Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia, Harasta in The Cunning Little Vixen for Opera East, Pandolfe in Cendrillon, Nardo in La finta giardiniera, Chao Lin in Judith Weir's A Night at the Chinese Opera for RAO and Kilian in Der Freischütz conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras at Edinburgh International Festival. Ronan was a BBC New Generation Artist 2006-2008, was awarded a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship in 2006 and the Priz Thierry Mermod at the Verbier Festival. During his time on the BBC NGA scheme he performed with conductors including Andris Nelsons, James Judd and Mikhail Agrest and with orchestras including BBC Philharmonic, BBC Symphony and BBC NOW. He has recently performed Trouble in Tahiti with Münchner Rundfunkorchester in Munich. In 2010 he will make his debut in Japan performing Belshazzar's Feast with Gunma Symphony Orchestra. On the concert platform, Ronan has performed extensively in Europe and Australia. Recent engagements include a recital with Mitsuko Uchida in Berlin Philharmonie, Die schöne Müllerin with Philippe Cassard in Lincoln, and a recital of Mozart Lieder with Iain Burnside in Italy. Since Ronan made his Wigmore Hall debut in 2004, he has appeared regularly there with various accompanists including Roger Vignoles, Graham Johnson and Malcolm Martineau. He has also performed the baritone solo part in Britten's War Requiem at the Perth International Festival and at the Sydney Opera House. Future engagements include concert performances of L'enfance du Christ with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Robin Ticciati, a Cole Porter Songbook recital in Leipzig with Tom Poster, a recital of Benjamin Britten songs with Roger Vignoles in Lugo, Spain, a recital in Wigmore Hall with Joseph Middleton and his Paris debut in Auditorium du Louvre with Christopher Glynn.
Last updated: January 2010
Photograph taken by Edward Webb
I am extremely grateful to the Borletti-Buitoni Trust for awarding me a Fellowship. It has made a hugely significant impact on my development as a musician and provided invaluable support to the very early stages of my career. Susan Rivers is a constant source of good advice and stability, and to have had the opportunity to sing through Lieder with Mitsuko Uchida, and to receive her counsel about how best to proceed in the classical music world, has been especially appreciated. My deepest thanks to all of the Borletti-Buitoni Trust for their continued support and guidance.