Nicky Spence
Nicky Spence (born 1983) is a Scottish tenor performing in opera, oratorio and concerts.
Early years
Spence was born in Dumfries in 1983. According to the biography on his web site "although struggling from a broken home, he thrived in life with a huge love of performing and working in his local chippy to earn money to pay for his singing lessons." [1] Spence won his first competition at the age of 14 (the Dumfries and Galloway Young Musician of the Year Award). He was educated at Wallace Hall Academy in Thornhill and attended the National Youth Music Theatre with actor Eddie Redmayne and Theatre Director Rebecca Atkinson-Lord (theater director).
Recordings and concerts
Nicky Spence's debut album My First Love, was recorded with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.[2] He has performed with Plácido Domingo and Kiri te Kanawa and has toured with Bryn Terfel, Katherine Jenkins, Hayley Westenra, Lesley Garrett and Shirley Bassey.[3]
Roles
- Belmonte in Die Entführung aus dem Serail (English Touring Opera)[4]
- Shepherd and Various in King Arthur (Aldeburgh Festival, Britten-Pears Young Artist)
- Pirelli in Sweeney Todd (Shawford Mill Theatre)
- Tony in West Side Story (Oxford Philharmonia)
- Count Zedlau im Wiener Blut (English Touring Opera)
- 3rd Gentleman in Peter Grimes (Salzburg Festival)
- Ferrando in Così fan tutte (Westminster Opera)
- Scaramuccio in Ariadne auf Naxos (Garsington Opera)
- The Soldier in I giardini della storia (Batignano Opera Festival)
Away from music
Nicky Spence is a fan of Dumfries-based football club, Queen of the South F.C.[5] He is also a patron of Help the Aged and has been selected as a young spokesperson against violence in the home by the Scottish Government.[6]
References
- ↑ Biography on nickyspence.com. See also: Rachel Harden, "Interview: Nicky Spence, tenor", The Church Times, Issue 7511 - 23 February, 2007
- ↑ Geoff Brown, "Nicky Spence", The Times, 13 January 2007
- ↑ Hugh Davies,"There's a guy works down the chip shop swears he's Pavarotti", Daily Telegraph, 7 June 2006.
- ↑ All roles listed here are from Spence's profile on Samling.org.uk
- ↑ Profile on Facebook
- ↑ Biography on nickyspence.com