Christopher Turner

Professor of Singing

Born in Birmingham, Christopher Turner studied Music at the University of Hull before continuing his vocal training with Barbara Robotham at the Royal Northern College of Music and later at the National Opera Studio, supported by the Scottish Endowment Trust and Covent Garden.

He has received numerous accolades, including the Michael and Joyce Kennedy Strauss Prize, the Frederic Cox Prize, the Elizabeth Harwood Prize, a Countess of Munster ‘Young Star’ Award, and the Sybil Tutton Award from the Musicians Benevolent Fund. He was also a major scholar of the Sir Peter Moores Foundation.

Christopher made his professional debut as Dr Blind in Die Fledermaus for Scottish Opera On Tour, before joining the Young Singers Programme at English National Opera, where his roles included Robert Wilson in Doctor Atomic, First Armed Man and First Priest in The Magic Flute, Beppe in Pagliacci, Simpleton in Boris Godunov, Spoletta in Tosca, Pong in Turandot, and Messenger in Aida.

He has since performed Don Ottavio with Opera North and Diva Opera in France, Roderigo in Otello with Opera North, Janek in The Makropulos Case and Esquire in Parsifal with English National Opera, Borsa in Rigoletto and Pong in Turandot with Scottish Opera, and Dr Caius in Falstaff with Opera Holland Park. His other roles include Damon in Acis and Galatea, Prunier in La Rondine, Iro in The Return of Ulysses with Iford Arts, the title role in Albert Herring with Mid Wales Opera, Tebaldo in I Capuleti e i Montecchi with Chelsea Opera Group, Ecclitico in Il Mondo della Luna with English Touring Opera, Artemidoro in Salieri’s La grotta di Trofonio, and Sempronio in Haydn’s The Apothecary with Bampton Classical Opera.

He made his Italian debut at Opera di Firenze in Candide, followed by performances as Rodolfo in La Bohème, Alfredo in La Traviata with Scottish Opera, Macduff in Macbeth with IF Opera, Fabio in Berenice, and Oronte in Alcina with La Nuova Musica, the latter broadcast live on radio. Prior to the pandemic, he received critical acclaim for his portrayal of Lippo in Opera North’s production of Street Scene. Most recently, he completed performances in Scottish Opera’s The Verdi Collection.

Christopher is also active on the concert stage, performing throughout the UK, Europe, and the Far East. His recent engagements include Beethoven’s Ninth Symphony with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra at the Royal Albert Hall and with the Philharmonia at the Lichfield Festival, Mozart’s Requiem and Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestra of St John’s Smith Square (recorded on DVD and CD), and Messiah at Cadogan Hall with the London Chamber Orchestra. His recordings for Opera Rara include roles in Maria di Rohan, Pia dei Tolomei, and Zazà.

Since becoming a father to two sons, Christopher has focused more on teaching and concert repertoire, with recent performances including Messiah, Dream of Gerontius, and Hymnus Paradisi. He has been a Vocal Professor at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire for eight years, and his students have gone on to perform at many of the world’s leading opera houses. He is delighted to return to his alma mater, the Royal Northern College of Music, joining a team of esteemed tutors, many of whom he has shared the stage with.