Baritone brother returns to Teesside for concert

Internationally known baritone Julian Tovey returned to Teesside to perform a special concert.

Guisborough-born Julian returned from recent appointments in Vienna and New York to sing at Teesside. Julian was introduced at the concert by his brother Wade Tovey, Assistant Dean (Enterprise, Knowledge Transfer and Employer Engagement) in the School of Health & Social Care.

Culture on campus Wade said: 'I was delighted to introduce, for the first time ever, my younger brother at this interesting concert. I wish I could sing like him! It's great he can contribute to our popular series of Culture of Campus events taking place at the University.'

Julian, a former pupil of Nunthorpe School and South Park College, sang with the choir of St Mary's Church in Nunthorpe. He played viola with Cleveland Youth Orchestra for many years under the inspirational leadership of the late Edwin Raymond and studied singing in Saltburn with the late Betty Middleton MBE.

He went on to study at Exeter College, Oxford, then St. Andrew's University and the Royal Northern College of Music, where he won first prize in the Wagner Society of Great Britain Bayreuth Bursary Competition.

New York Philharmonic Julian recently performed with the New York Philharmonic in December 2008 and at Milan's Teatro alla Scala in May 2008 in Lorin Maazel's opera 1984.

Other recent roles include Donner in Wagner's Das Rheingold with De Vlaamse Opera conducted by Gustav Kuhn at the Tiroler Festspiele, in David McVicar's new production in Strasbourg and Bonze in Anthony Minghella's production of Puccini's Madame Butterfly for English National Opera.

Providing accompaniment for Julian at the concert was Alison Gill, 23, from Hartlepool, who recently completed her studies at the Royal Academy of Music. Alison has previously performed at Teesside's Culture on Campus events.

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