Matthew McKinney

Hailed for his ‘gorgeous lyric voice’, Scottish tenor Matthew McKinney is quickly establishing a reputation for his nuanced artistry, innate musicality and expressive performance across opera, song and concert. Winner of the 2024 Kathleen Ferrier Award main prize, Matthew makes a principal debut at Glyndebourne this season in the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s The Railway Children, followed by a debut with English National Opera in the spring. In recital, he appears with Malcolm Martineau, Roelof Temmingh, and Dearbhla Collins, and on the concert stage, he performs alongside the Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia for the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Angels Unawares in Rome and London (Cadogan Hall), the Evangelist in St. John’s Passion in Paisley Abbey and Mendelssohn’s Elijah in Ayr, Scotland.

Highlights of recent seasons include his debut at Carnegie Hall as a song studio artist, Beethoven’s An Die Ferne Geliebte as part of the newly compiled work Do Not Take My Story for a Fairy Tale for English Touring Opera, Bach’s St Matthew Passion for Dunedin Consort, cover Bardolfo Falstaff for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and Luigino Il viaggio a Reims and Rustighello Lucrezia Borgia in new productions for English Touring Opera. Other roles include Tsar The Snow Maiden, Damon Acis & Galatea (Ryedale Festival) and Henrik A Little Night Music (Opera North, Buxton International Festival).

On the concert platform, Matthew’s repertoire includes Bach’s St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Puccini’s Messe Di Gloria (The Orchestra of Scottish Opera), and Macmillan’s All the Hills and Vales Along.

Matthew has also established himself as an accomplished recitalist. Alongside his duo partner Roelof Temmingh, they have curated a programme called ‘Finding Freedom’, where they aim to blend the traditional recital format with distinctive, contemporary elements. ‘Finding Freedom’ has been presented in recitals across the UK and Ireland for Bechstein Hall, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Westbourne Musical Festival, Cambridge Summer Music Festival, and Whiddon Autumn Festival among others.

Alongside his growing career as a soloist, Matthew has a passion for community music and music outreach. Over the years Matthew has loved conducting community choirs, touring new opera for children around England, helping run interactive music workshops for toddlers, and being a part of charity organisations like Streetwise Opera. He hopes to continue growing this part of his career for as long as he works. He feels this is a core part of who he is as a singer and musician.