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.

Season Overview

Bergen Philharmonic Orchestra

Delius Eine Messe des Lebens

September 2022

Blackheath Halls

The Poet’s Echo with Gareth Brynmor John, Abi Hyde-Smith and Jocelyn Freeman

October 2022

Staatsoper Hamburg

Mozart Die Zauberflöte

December 2022/January 2023

Opéra de Toulon

Mozart Così fan Tutte

February 2023

Opéra national de Lorraine

Paderewski Manru

May 2023

The Hallé

Elgar The Kingdom

June 2023

Duo

Duo

Gemma Summerfield and Sebastian Wybrew first struck accord in 2014 when they met at the Royal College of Music. They take pride in programming exciting pathways through recitals and this has stood them in good stead to launch a career as a duo. Sebastian played for Gemma’s first major competition in 2015: the Kathleen Ferrier Awards. On this occasion Summerfield won First Prize and the Loveday Song Prize and duly credits this win to the creativity and flexibility that this partnership allows. Further recognition of their work together came in the form of the Jean Meikle Duo Prize awarded to the pair at the 2017 Wigmore Hall International Song Competition. They went on to be finalists in the Concours Musical International de Montreal in May 2018 and you can watch this performance above.

They have continued to work closely together and it has been noted that their bond of friendship breathes a unique ‘life’ into their performances. Performing together regularly on concert platforms around the UK and across the Globe means that Sebastian and Gemma have a wealth of experience which informs unique recitals to suit the individualities of venues and audiences.

Concert enquires for the duo can be made through the contact form on this website.

Contact

Representation

Gemma is represented worldwide by Promethean Artists:

Promethean Artists

Third Floor, 86-90 Paul St,

London EC2A 4NE

United Kingdom

Contact

It’s always good to hear from folk. Do get in touch with any thoughts or queries!

I also provide singing tuition and coaching and have a small number of spaces available this season.