Neil Jenkins

Neil Jenkins has been a professional singer for forty years. He made his debut in October 1967, and sang and recorded with the Deller Consort, under the direction of Alfred Deller, for ten years, whilst establishing himself as an opera singer at Kent Opera . In the 1970s he was appointed as an RCM singing professor by Sir David Willcocks, for whom he became a regular soloist with the Bach Choir, especially in the Bach Passions. He is equally at home as an Operatic, Oratorio and Recital singer; and combines this with an increasingly important role as a musicologist. Neil has translated and edited all of Bach’s major choral works for the New Novello Choral Edition, & Haydn’s ‘Seasons’ & ‘Creation’ for King’s Music. He has produced several song albums for OUP & Kevin Mayhew Ltd.

Neil has sung with all of Britain’s leading opera companies, and was associated with Kent Opera, Scottish Opera, WNO & Glyndebourne for many years. His performances in Kent Opera’s King Priam & Glyndebourne Festival’s Lulu and Higglety Pigglety Pop are available on video. He joined WNO once again in 2008 for a production of Verdi’s Falstaff, starring Bryn Terfel, which was broadcast and televised. Neil has been honoured by the Worshipful Company of Musicians with the presentation of the Sir Charles Santley Memorial Award for his achievements in his career.

2007 marked the 40th anniversary of his 1967 London debut. Neil is Musical Director of the Sussex Chorus and the NJ Chorale, and is President of the Haywards Heath Music Society, Grange Choral Society, Shoreham Oratorio Choir, as well as being Patron of the Goldsmiths Choral Union of London.