“A young singer to watch” (The Times), British tenor Laurence Kilsby is rapidly gaining international recognition for his vivid stage presence, expressive musicianship, and wide-ranging repertoire. Shortlisted in the category Young Singer at the 2023 International Opera Awards, Laurence Kilsby won first prize in three international competitions; the Das Lied Competition at the Heidelberger Frühling Festspiele, the Wigmore Hall/Bollinger International Song Competition and the Cesti Competition at the Innsbrucker Festwochen der Alten Musik. He recently released his debut album with pianist Ella O’Neill, entitled AWAKENINGS, in coproduction with Avi-Musik, Deutsche Grammophon and SWR Kultur.
Laurence began his singing career as a renowned boy treble with the Tewkesbury Abbey Schola Cantorum and was BBC Radio 2’s Young Chorister of the Year in 2009. He appears as a treble soloist on a number of acclaimed recordings, including Mozart’s Coronation Mass and Solemn Vespers (with the Schola Cantorum), as well as the Grammy nominated recording of Handel's L'Allegro, Penseroso ed il Moderato (with the Gabrieli Consort). He is an alumnus of the Royal College of Music (where he was an ABRSM scholar and recipient of the Kathleen Ferrier Bursary) and the Curtis Institute of Music.
The 26/27 season sees Laurence make a number of significant house and role debuts including his debut Ferrando in Così fan tutte with Canadian Opera Company, Septimius in Theodora with Grand Théâtre de Genève, Arbace in Idomeneo in a return to Opéra de Paris, and a return to Innsbruck Festival for Oronte in Bononcini's opera Il Tigrane.
On the concert platform, highlights include his debut with the LA Phil under Esa-Pekka Salonen in Mozart's Requiem, Evangelist in Bach's St Matthew Passion with Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, and Jaquino in a European concert tour of Fidelio with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestra. He also gives recitals at the Concertgebouw and Wigmore Hall.
Highlights of recent seasons include his Glyndebourne Festival debut as the Novice in Billy Budd, Lurcanio in Ariodante at Opéra de Versailles, and appearances at Opéra national de Paris, Opéra national du Rhin, Opéra Comique, and the Aix-en-Provence, Innsbruck and Adelaide Festivals. On the concert platform he has appeared with the Concertgebouworkest under Klaus Mäkelä, the BBC Symphony Orchestra under Sakari Oramo, Sinfonia of London and John Wilson, the Orchestre Philharmonique de Radio France, RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, and made his US concert debut last season with the Orchestra of St. Luke's in Beethoven's Symphony No. 9 under Raphaël Pichon. Laurence appears regularly at the BBC Proms.