Originally from Llangefni on the Isle of Anglesey, bass-baritone Meilir Jones graduated with Distinction in Masters from the Royal Academy of Music, studying with Richard Berkeley-Steele and vocal coaches Iain Ledingham and Ingrid Surgenor, and a First Class Honours, Bachelor of Music, from the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. In 2021 he toured with Diva Opera as Masetto Don Giovanni and Dancaïre Carmen. In 2023 he will sing Alidoro La Cenerentola at Longhope Opera and Soldato Marocchino 3 La Ciociara and Un Corporal La fille du régiment for Wexford Festival Opera.
In 2019 Meilir performed the roles of Sciarrone & Carceriere Tosca at the Abu Dhabi International Festival, Leporello Don Giovanni for Opra Cymru & Covent Garden Chamber Orchestra and Messenger in the first European staging of Handel’s Belshazzar for the Grange Festival while covering Figaro Le nozze di Figaro. Meilir’s last concert before lockdown saw him debut with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra performing music by Handel, conducted by Laurence Cummings and would have gone on to debut with Orchestre Symphonique de Bretagne in Rennes performing Mozart’s Requiem.
Solo concert highlights include the first performance of Handel’s Messiah at Wales Millennium Centre, Bryn Terfel’s Brynfest at Royal Festival Hall, the 25th London Welsh Festival of Male Choirs concert at Royal Albert Hall and performing as part of the WW1 Battle of Passchendaele centenary commemorations at Tyne Cot, Belgium which was broadcast globally.
Meilir has won several prizes including first prize at the 2014 Association of English Singers & Speakers Courtney Kenny Award, the International Medal for the under 21 vocal solo at Llangollen International Eisteddfod, the Blue Ribbon Osborne Roberts Memorial Prize for singers under twenty five years of age at the National Eisteddfod of Wales and third prize at the 2018 Dame Patricia Routledge National English Song Competition.
Meilir collaborates on an extensive repertoire with duo partner Virgile Van Essche, a Belgian-based pianist who studied at the Saint Petersburg State Conservatory and Royal Academy of Music. They were shortlisted to compete in the 2019 biennial Nadia and Lili Boulanger International Voice-Piano Competition.
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Video
YouTube Playlist includes:
- Vecchia zimarra senti, La bohème, Puccini
- Épouse quelque brave fille, Manon, Massenet
- Madamina, il catalogo è questo, Don Giovanni, Mozart
- Sorge infausta una procella, Orlando, Handel
- Quand la flamme de l’amour, Jolie fille de Perth, Bizet
Reviews
“Meilir Jones is an involved and diligent Masetto with a muscular torso, he has a pleasantly warm projecting bass baritone voice, especially in the lower part of his range.”
“Meilir Jones, en Masetto impliqué et appliqué, et au torse bombé, use d’une voix de baryton-basse agréablement chaude en projection, notamment dans la partie la plus basse de la tessiture.”
Olyrix.com
“Faustine de Mones (Zerlina) and Meilir Jones (Masetto) show vocal capacities far superior to those required by their respective roles; names to be remembered, without a doubt.”
“Faustine de Monès (Zerlina) et Meilir Jones (Masetto) montrent des capacités très largement supérieures à celles exigées par leurs parties respectives: sans nul doute des noms à retenir.”
Concertonet.com
“In Handel’s Dixit Dominus, Bass Meilir Jones was as sharp, incisive and dramatic as one could want.”
Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra review
“Of the three Royal Academy of Music soloists, Meilir Jones had the required platform manner and mellifluous tone to engage the audience…The Sanctus united the choir before the impressive Meilir Jones led the Benedictus with dramatic intensity. An evening full of joy brought to a resolute close.”
Mid Sussex Times
Photos
Credit: Simon Annand 
Credit: S4C 
Credit: Desmond Chewyn 
Credit: Sofia Yang Martinez 
Credit: Diva Opera
