Biography

Jemima Gray is a South African born Mezzo Soprano currently based in Manchester, studying at the Royal Northern College of Music, under the guidance of Mary Plazas.

In June 2026 Jemima won the Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Strauss, and is now grateful to have been selected as the Musicians Company Singing Award recipient and Young Artist 2026. Previously, Jemima has performed as a Buxton Opera Young Artist and made her Wigmore Hall debut in May 2025 where she premiered two original works by Roxanna Panufnik as part of the RNCM ‘In Focus’ series.

Her operatic roles include Foresters Wife in Cunning Little Vixen (RNCM Opera), Clarisse in Love of Three Oranges (RNCM Opera), Kate Julian in Owen Wingrave (RNCM Opera), The Abbess in Suor Angelica (Berlin Opera Academy), Hänsel cover in Hänsel & Gretel (Berlin Opera Academy), The Attendant in A Trip to the Moon (Garsington Opera), Dorabella in scenes from Cosi fan Tutte (National Opera Studio: Exploring Opera), and Mrs Ford Sir John in Love (RNCM Opera Scenes).

Jemima has 10 years of training in ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary and modern dance, and has also enjoyed a varied career in stage acting; performing roles from both Greek tragedies and Shakespearean plays.

Later in the season, Jemima is looking forward to performing with Opera Holland Park in the chorus of Turandot, Die Fledermaus & Un Ballo Maschera, and debuting as Lucia in Lake District Music’s production of Cavaleria Rusticana in August and taking on the role of Olga in RNCM’s winter production of Eugine Onegin. She is proud to be generously supported by Musicians Company, The Joyce and Michael Kennedy foundation, and the Annie Ridyard scholarship.

Award: Musicians’ Company Award 2026

Photo Credit: Fay Summerfield Photography