Allan Clayton - Biography

Allan Clayton received support from BBT between 2008 and 2011. For his current biography visit maestroarts.com

Allan Clayton MBE is established as one of the most exciting and sought after singers of his generation. He studied at St John’s College, Cambridge and at the Royal Academy of Music in London.  An Associate of the Royal Academy of Music and former BBC New Generation Artist from 2007-2009, his awards include “The Queen’s Commendation for Excellence”, a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Fellowship, the 2018 Whatsonstage Award for Excellence in Opera, and the 2018 Royal Philharmonic Society Singer Award.

Allan garnered huge praise as the lead role in Brett Dean’s Hamlet, which had its world premiere at Glyndebourne in June 2017.  His many and diverse roles include David/Die Meistersinger von Nurnberg for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden; Ferdinand/Miranda for Opera Comique; Jonathan/Saul for Glyndebourne; Jupiter/Semele and Candide/Candide for Komische Oper Berlin.

Allan’s concert appearances include The Dream of Gerontius at the Barbican Centre in London with the London Symphony Orchestra and Sir Mark Elder, Britten’s War Requiem with the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Semyon Bychkov, and Handel’s Messiah for the Handel & Haydn Society in Boston.  He appears regularly at the BBC Proms, where he has sung the title role in Oedpius Rex with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sakari Oramo; the world premiere of Gerald Barry’s new work, Canada with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra conducted by Mirga Gražinytė-Tyla; and Britten’s War Requiem with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra conducted by Peter Oudijian.

A consummate recitalist, Allan has given lieder recitals at the Cheltenham, Perth and Aldeburgh Festivals.  Allan returns regularly to the Wigmore Hall in London.

Last updated: October 2018

I first heard of the BBT Trust a couple of years ago through its support of such fine singers as Andrew Kennedy and Ronan Collett. When the Trust very kindly awarded me a fellowship though, I was soon made aware of the incredible support on offer to me. Having left the Royal Academy of Music four months earlier I was in that scary place known to all recent post graduates as “the real world” – a mysterious place where no schedule exists and the onus really is on the individual to work and to excel. The BBT award has made this world easier and taken away so many of the extraneous stresses and strains which all young musicians must endure. Being given the chance to organise singing lessons and coachings in preparation for my Glyndebourne debut last year, without worrying about how I was going to afford it, was simply invaluable. The space and time I have also been afforded by the BBT’s support has meant that I have always been able to focus on doing the job once I am on stage. 1 year later the real world is a little less scary and I feel I have managed to get a sound footing thanks to the backing, practically and otherwise, of the BBT. With their continued support I am looking forward to seeing where on earth I will end up.

Photographs by Sam Canetty-Clarke