Alun Rhys Jenkins, having taught music for eight years, decided on a singing career after winning the W. Towyn Roberts Scholarship at the National Eisteddfod of Wales in 2004.

He joined Welsh National Opera in 2005 as a chorister and also sang the roles of Remendado in Carmen conducted by Michal Klauza, Streshnev in Khovanshchina conducted by Lothar Koenigs, First Tenor in The Seven Deadly Sins conducted by Carlo Rizzi, Sailor in Tristan und Isolde conducted by Mark Wigglesworth and Fourth Jew in Salome conducted by Lothar Koenigs. He also understudied the roles of Ramiro in La Cenerentola, Bardolpho in Falstaff and Iskra in Mazeppa for the company.

In 2006, Alun completed his studies with Dennis O’Neill at the Cardiff International Academy of Voice and in 2007 embarked on a freelance career. He has subsequently sung Remendado in Carmen, Goro in Madama Butterfly and Don Curzio in The Marriage of Figaro for English National Opera, Pedrillo in Welsh National Opera’s production of The Abduction of Seraglio, Major Domo in Der Rosenkavalier for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and Bardolpho in Falstaff for the Iford Arts Festival and Witch in Hänsel Und Gretel for the Mananan International Festival.

Alun has also understudied the roles of Monostatos in Die Zauberflöte, Snout in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Iro in The Return of Ulysses for English National Opera, Basilio and Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro for Scottish Opera, Bardolpho in Falstaff, Valzacchi in Der Rosenkavalier and Squeak in Billy Budd for Glyndebourne Festival Opera and Lilaque Pere in Boulevard Solitude for Welsh National Opera.

Concert highlights include Spoletta in a concert performance of Tosca as part of Bryn Terfel’s 50th birthday celebrations at the Wales Millennium Centre, Fourth Jew in concert performances of Salome with the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra conducted by Kirill Karabits, Beadle in a semi-staged performance of Sweeney Todd, with Bryn Terfel in the title role, at Llangollen International Eisteddfod and soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Barcelona Symphony Orchestra at L’Auditori, Barcelona, conducted by Carlo Rizzi. Alun has performed Handel’s Messiah with the Orchestra of Welsh National Opera at St David’s Hall, Cardiff and a Classical Spectacular at the Cardiff International Arena with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales. He also sang the role of Preacher in the world premiere of Carbon 12, A Choral Symphony by Errollyn Wallen, conducted by Carlo Rizzi at the Wales Millennium Centre.

Recent engagements include Goro in Madama Butterfly both for English National Opera and for Glyndebourne’s autumn tour. This season, Alun will make his debut with Garsington Opera as Don Curzio in Le Nozze di Figaro and he will return to Welsh National Opera and Glyndebourne Festival Opera in 2018.