Biography
Biography
Soprano Gemma Summerfield graduated from the Royal College of Music International Opera Studio in 2016. Continuing to work closely with Rosa Mannion she has enjoyed honing her craft across a wide range of repertoire. Highlights on the Operatic Stage include Mimì (La bohème, Northern Ireland Opera), Nanetta (Falstaff, Scottish Opera), Pamina (The Magic Flute, Glyndebourne & Scottish Opera), Paula Jordan (Dinner at Eight, Wexford Festival Opera) Rodelinda (Rodelinda, cover, English National Opera) Michal (Saul, cover, Glyndebourne Festival Opera), Gretel (Hänsel und Gretel) Rosalinde (Die Fledermaus), Ginevra (Ariodante) and Donna Elvira (Don Giovanni). This season will see Gemma perform Fiordiligi in Così fan Tutte for Opéra national du Rhin and make her Wigmore Hall Recital Debut.
Gemma consistently proves her capabilities on platforms around the world. In recent recitals she has performed throughout the UK, and in Norway, Canada and Denmark. Oratorio Performances include Beethoven in Switzerland, Bach in Beirut and Mozart in Westminster Abbey. This Season she will debut with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, the Mozart Concert Orchestra and in recital with Duo Partner Sebastian Wybrew.
Using competition platforms regularly to cement her standing amongst her peers, Gemma was awarded First Prize in the Concorso Lirico Internazionale de Portofino 2019, ‘swept the board’ at the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Awards winning both 1st Prize and the Loveday Song Prize , and was the only British finalist in the inaugural Glyndebourne Cup and the 2018 Concours Musical International de Montreal.
Also a Yeoman of the Worshipful Company of Musicians having been awarded the Silver Medal, Gemma holds the current Susan Chilcott award, administered by the Royal Philharmonic Society and is a Carne Scholar.
