Biography

Baritone, Brian McBride was born and grew up in Glasgow where he began studying cello at St

Mungo’s Academy and progressed to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland Junior school where his

talent for singing was recognised. Brian then travelled to Rome to study the Italian language and

singing under the tutelage of Carlo Desideri at the Conservatorio di Santa Cecilia. Returning to Scot-

land he sang in various choirs including the National Youth Choir of Scotland and later was awarded

a place at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland where he gained a Bachelor of Music degree and is

now continuing his studies at Masters level under the direction of Scot Johnson. During his time at the

Conservatoire, Brian has become a leading artist and is winner of the Hugh Roberton Prize for Scots

Singing. His opera credits include Narrator in Haas’ Šarlatán, Littore/Famigliari/Tribuni in Mon-

teverdi’s L'incoronazione di Poppea, Starveling in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Scottish

Opera) and Périchaud in Puccini’s La Rondine. Brian is also an experienced oratorio soloist having

performed works by Fauré, Mozart, Haas, Rutter, Handel, Haydn, Vaughn Williams, Tippett,

Beethoven, Brahms and most recently, Handel’s Messiah with Halifax Choral Society and Royal

Northern Sinfonia under the baton of John Pryce-Jones. Other upcoming performances include;

Mozart’s Requiem, Mozart’s Solemn Vespers, Stainer’s Crusifiction, Faure’s Requiem and Haydn’s

Creation whilst preparing the role of Presto in Poulenc’s Les Mamelles to Tirésais and Dr. Caius in

Vaughn William’s Sir John in Love. Brian will also be appearing in this years Edinburgh International

Festival, performing in the chorus of Stravinsky’s Rake’s Progress with the Scottish Chamber Or-

chestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis.