Gemma Summerfield

Gemma Summerfield

Key Facts

Biography

At the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Awards soprano Gemma Lois Summerfield ‘swept the board’ winning both 1st Prize and the Loveday Song Prize for her performance of Sibelius’s ‘Flickan kom ifrån sin älsklings möte’. These awards were gratefully received by Gemma in full recognition of the efforts exhibited by Duo Partner, Sebastian Wybrew, with whom she also performed in the 2017 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition where pair were awarded the Jean Miekle Duo Prize.

On the Operatic Stage Gemma has performed Fiordiligi Così fan tutte, Gretel Hänsel und Gretel, Ginevra Ariodante, Rosalinde Die Fledermaus, First Lady Die Zauberflöte, Donna Elvira Don Giovanni, Barmherzigkeit Die Schuldigkeit des ersten Gebots (Mozart) Hyacinthus Apollo et Hyacinthus (Mozart), Berenice Il Vologeso (Jomelli) and covered Rodelinda Rodelinda (ENO), also playing Vixen, Musetta, Ludmilla and Ilia in scenes from Cunning Little Vixen, La Boheme, Bartered Bride and Idomeneo respectively.

A graduate of the Royal College of Music International Opera School Gemma continues to study under the tutelage of Vocal Teacher Rosa Mannion and Coach Simon Lepper. She is also an alumna of the Verbier Academy, Georg Solti Accademia and Oxenfoord International Summer School and has taken part in masterclasses and working sessions with; Dame Felicity Lott, Claudio Desderi, Elena Pankratova, Barbara Frittoli, Leo Nucci, Dame Sarah Connolly, Dame Felicity Palmer, Yvonne Kenny, Edith Wiens, Susan Bullock, Patricia MacMahon, Joan Rodgers; conductors Richard Bonynge, Dan Ettinger, Joshua Weilerstein and Benjamin Bayl; and accompanists Malcolm Martineau, Roger Vignoles and Graham Johnson.  

Oratorio performances include Stabat Mater (Rossini, St John’s Smith Square); Carmina Burana(Orff, City Halls, Glasgow); Elijah (Mendelssohn, Holy Trinity, Sloane Square); Stabat Mater(Pergolesi, RCM); and Magnificat in D Major and Christmas Cantata (Bach, Dunkeld Cathedral).

Forthcoming performances throughout the UK and abroad include Bach at the Al Bustan Festival in Beirut, Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony in Switzerland, and UK appearences at the Bath, East Devon, Beaminster and Ripon Cathedral Festivals.

Also a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians having been awarded the Silver Medal, Gemma is a Carne Scholar,  an Associate Artist with Classical Opera, a Countess of Munster Recital Scheme Artist and is also an active participant with Live Music Now.

 

Musicians’ Company Award: Silver Medal – RCM 2015

Page Updated: May 2018