Alun Rhys Jenkins, having taught music for eight years, decided on a singing career after winning the Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the Royal National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2004.
He joined Welsh National Opera in 2005 as a chorister and also sang the roles of Remendado in Carmen conducted by Michal Klauza, Streshnev in Khovanshchina conducted by Lothar Koenigs, First Tenor in The Seven Deadly Sins conducted by Carlo Rizzi, Sailor in Tristan und Isolde conducted by Mark Wigglesworth and Fourth Jew in Salome conducted by Lothar Koenigs. He also understudied the roles of Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Bardolpho in Falstaff and Iskra in Mazeppa for the company.
In 2006, Alun completed his studies with Dennis O’Neill at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice and in 2007 embarked on a freelance career. He has subsequently sung Pedrillo in WNO’s production of The Abduction of Seraglio, Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro for English National Opera, Witch in Hansel & Gretel and Bardolpho in Falstaff for Iford Arts Festival and the Witch in Hansel & Gretel for Mananan International Festival. Alun has also understudied the roles of Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Iro in The Return of Ulysses for English National Opera, Basilio and Curzio in Le nozze di Figaro for Scottish Opera and Squeak in Billy Budd for Glyndebourne Festival Opera.
Concert highlights include soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra at L’Auditori, Barcelona, conducted by Carlo Rizzi, soloist in Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera at St David’s Hall, Cardiff and a Classical Spectacular at the Cardiff International Arena with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. Alun sang the role of Preacher in the world premiere of Carbon 12, A Choral Symphony by Errollyn Wallen, conducted by Carlo Rizzi at the Wales Millennium Centre.
Alun is one of the popular group ‘The Three Welsh Tenors’ who have performed in concerts and festivals across the UK and appeared on numerous Welsh television programmes. Their debut album was released in 2011 on the SAIN label.
This season Alun sings Remendado in Carmen for English National Opera.