ABOUT
Musician
Midlands born baritone, Edward Robinson, studied at the Royal Northern College of Music as the Oglesby Trust and Drapers de Turckheim Scholar where he was awarded his first class Bachelor of Music (hons) and Master of Music degrees.
Edward’s passion for opera has lead him to perform in a number of innovative productions during his career performing roles such as: Pilgrim The Pilgrim's Progress, Marco Gianni Schicchi, Don Pedro Much Ado About Nothing, Bobinet La Vie Parisienne, performing with Opera North, Garsington Opera Festival, Dorset Opera Festival, Clonter Opera, Northern Opera Group and The Buxton International Festival, 2018 and 2019.
Edward has a busy schedule on the concert platform. Recent concerts as guest soloist include Brahms' Requiem, Faure’s Requiem, Haydn’s Creation, Handel's Messiah and Alexander’s Feast, Vaughan Williams’ Five Mystical Songs and a staged performance of his Songs of Travel, performing at venues including Opéra Comique, Paris, Birmingham Symphony Hall and The Sage, Gateshead
Upon graduating from the Royal Northern College of Music, Edward was awarded the Robin Kay Memorial Prize for Opera Singing. The award is given annually to the singer the college deems to have the most promising career in opera. Edward joins an esteemed list of winners that includes Sir Simon Keenleyside, Amanda Roocroft, Kang Wang and Kathryn Rudge. Edward has also won awards such as The Brigitte Fassbaender Award for Lieder, The Dean and Chadlington Singing Competition Audience Prize, the Harriet Cohen Memorial Award and Staffordshire Young Singer of the Year.
Animateur and Workshop Facilitator
Over the last 5 years, Edward has become increasingly sought after as a Vocal Animateur and Workshop Facilitator. Through his work with Pimlico Opera's scheme "Primary Robins", Edward delivers 20 sessions every week, introducing opera, folk and musical theatre to students from Staffordshire schools in areas of high deprivation. Edward has also led both primary and secondary projects for Leeds Lieder Festival, working alongside musicians and poets to present Art Song to new audiences, highlighting the relevance and importance of the art form in the 21st century. Alongside pianist Rachel Fright, Edward is an associate artist for the organisations Live Music Now and SoundUp Arts, leading performances and workshops at special schools as well as for people living with dementia across the North East. The projects range from one-off concerts to intensive week long projects or 8 week residencies to deliver social impact through music, supporting the musical lives of people experiencing challenging circumstances, disadvantage or social exclusion. Edward has also led opera workshops for primary students at Clonter Opera Festival and sung in outreach productions at the Buxton International Festival.
Teacher
As a teacher of music, Edward has worked for organisations such as Stagecoach Performing Arts and Footlights Theatre as well as holding peripatetic teaching positions at secondary schools and as a private vocal tutor. He is an experience teacher of ABRSM examinations and is one of Staffordshire's three LAMDA directory registered specialists.
REVIEWS AND TESTIMONIALS
Pilgrim | The Pilgrim's Progress |
Nigel Simeone - Opera Magazine review
"The enormous cast was led by Edward Robinson as a vocally secure, dramatically convincing and sensitively drawn Pilgrim... his effortless sense of line and exemplary diction suggest an impressive future" -
Pilgrim | The Pilgrim's Progress |
David Parry - Conductor
"Particular mention must go to Edward Robinson as the Pilgrim, who gave a beautifully sung, true, intense and moving account of the role"
Soloist | FOYSM Recital | The Riverway Centre, Stafford
"The programme opened with the wondrous sound of Baritone, Edward Robinson"
Soloist | In Flanders recital
Matthew Connolly - Northern Soul
"As for singing, in a concert featuring “Brexit-ignoring” fare of British and French song (a partnership between the RNCM and the Paris Conservatoire), the richest moments came when an amazing young British baritone, Edward Robinson, sang in French."
Victoria Collier | Deputy Headteacher at Old Moat Primary
Opera singer Ed Robinson arrived in September and already, we can’t imagine school life without him. Staff and children alike look forward to Ed’s visits on Fridays: the impact on mood is palpable as the children’s voices fill the air. Music is a powerful medium and Ed has the children’s attention from the moment the lesson starts. He has got the children from Years 1-4 engaging with and enjoying music, and singing with more confidence than we have ever seen at Old Moat. Something really special happens when a real musician works with children"
UPCOMING PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
16th March at 7:30pm
Rossini's Petite Messe Solonelle
Birkenhead Choral Society
17th April at 1:30pm
Recital
Leeds Lieder Festival