Born in London, Simon Keenlyside as a child attended St. John's College School, Cambridge, and toured and recorded with the school's choir. He studied zoology at Cambridge University, and, after graduation from Cambridge, resumed vocal studies at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. He appears as a baritone both in opera and song.

Simon is one of Britain's most sought after and charismatic singers, noted for his versatility and highly charged performance on stage. Highlights of his career so far include his acclaimed Billy Budd and Prospero in the world premiere of Thomas Adès' "The Tempest" at the Royal Opera House, Count Almaviva in Milan and Vienna under Muti, Don Giovanni in Ferrara under Abbado and Pelléas in San Francisco, Geneva and Paris, Hamlet at Covent Garden, Posa in "Don Carlo" in Vienna and Wolfram in "Tannhäuser" in Munich. He was Pelléas in the last acclaimed production under Rattle at the Salzburg Easter Festival. Since appearing in recital at La Scala in 1998 he has gone on to give recitals all over the world. Future engagements include the Vienna State Opera, the Berlin Philharmonic, the Metropolitan Opera New York, the Stae Opera in Munich, Covent Garden and l'Opéra de Paris.

With great delight we are able to announce that Simon has agreed to be Clonter Opera's very first President.

He accepted this invitation earlier this year, when he recalled fond memories of his time at Clonter in 1984 rehearsing and performing the role of The Count in The Marriage of Figaro. Simon was introduced to Clonter Opera by his teacher, John Cameron. John also recommended his friend Leonard Hancock who subsequently became Clonter's Musical Director for the next 15 years. Simon still recalls Leonard's "wonderful and patient tuition", and also remembers the care he received from Jeffery Lockett's mother, Betty Bannerman, at the RNCM, "another highlight of my song education".

Simon Keenlyside CBE
Baritone & President, Clonter Opera