RIAM announces appointment of Professor Owen Gilhooly-Miles as Head of Vocal Studies and Opera

The Royal Irish Academy of Music has announced the appointment of Professor Owen Gilhooly-Miles as Head of Vocal Studies and Opera at Ireland’s National Conservatoire.

Irish baritone Owen Gilhooly-Miles is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and the National Opera Studio. He made his Royal Opera House debut singing Fauré’s Requiem for the Royal Ballet and represented Ireland at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World in 2007.

An acclaimed operatic and concert performer, Professor Gilhooly-Miles has appeared with leading companies and orchestras in Ireland, the UK and internationally, including the Royal Opera House, Wexford Festival Opera, Opera Theatre Company, Scottish Opera, English Touring Opera, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, National Symphony Orchestra Ireland, Irish Chamber Orchestra, Irish Baroque Orchestra, Ulster Orchestra, Philharmonia Orchestra and London Philharmonic Orchestra.

An Accredited Member of Vocal Health Education where he most recently completed the Singing Informed Voice Rehabilitation course, Professor Gilhooly-Miles brings a deep commitment to Vocal Health and the training and development of classical singers. His teaching is grounded in a holistic, biopsychosocial approach, supported by a thorough working knowledge of modern vocal pedagogy. His students continue to emerge on national and international stages, reflecting his dedication to healthy, expressive and individual vocal artistry.

Commenting on the announcement, Deborah Kelleher, Director of the RIAM, said: 

“I am delighted that Owen Gilhooly-Miles has been appointed Head of Vocal Studies and Opera at RIAM. Owen is an outstanding artist and educator, with a distinguished performance career and a deep understanding of the craft, care and resilience required to train classical singers today. His holistic approach to vocal development, combined with his experience on national and international stages, will bring great energy and insight to this important area of the Academy.

“I also want to pay tribute to Professor Kathleen Tynan, whose leadership as Head of Vocal Studies and Opera has been truly groundbreaking. Kathleen has helped shape a generation of singers at RIAM with extraordinary commitment, and her influence on vocal and operatic training at the Academy has been profound. We are deeply grateful for her leadership and delighted that she will continue as a valued member of the RIAM teaching faculty.”

Owen Gilhooly-Miles

Irish baritone Owen Gilhooly-Miles is a graduate of the Royal College of Music and National Opera Studio. He made his Royal Opera House debut singing Fauré Requiem for the Royal Ballet and in 2007 represented Ireland at BBC Cardiff Singer of the World.

His operatic performances include Robert in the world premiere of Luke Bedford’s Through His Teeth (Royal Opera House, Covent Garden); Papageno Die Zauberflöte, Guglielmo Così fan tutte, Escamillo Carmen, Figaro The Barber of Seville, Dandini La Cenerentola, Marcello La bohème, Father Hansel and Gretel, and Don Fernando Fidelio (all for Opera Theatre Company); Emilio Il Cappello Di Paglia di Firenze, King Louis XVI The Ghosts of Versailles, Lord Salt The Golden Ticket, Elder Ott Susannah, Tooley The Mines of Sulphur, and Bob The Old Maid and the Thief (all for Wexford Festival Opera); Ivan in Rimsky Korsakov’s Kaschey the Immortal and Bailiff in Sibelius’ The Maiden in the Tower (Buxton International Festival); the title role Don Chisciotte in Sierra Morena for Musikwerkstatt Wien; Malatesta Don Pasquale(English Touring Opera); Albert Werther (Les Azuriales); Eckbert Blond Eckbert and The General Seven Angels (The Opera Group); Capellio I Capuletti e I Montecchi (Grange Park Opera); Dr Falke Die Fledermaus, Schaunard La bohème (Scottish Opera); Count Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro and Figaro The Barber of Seville (Lismore Music Festival); Valentin Faust(Everyman Theatre, Cork); and Mandarin Turandot and Valentin Faust (Opera Ireland).

In concert, Owen has performed extensively with both national and international orchestras. With the BBC Symphony Orchestra performances include Berlioz L’enfance du Christ, The Bridegroom in Judith Weir’s The Vanishing Bridegroom and at the BBC Proms Bill Bobstay HMS Pinafore and Konečký Osud. Other appearances include Fauré Requiem (Ulster Orchestra and The Royal Ballet, Covent Garden); Mozart Requiem (Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra); Carmina Burana(Royal Liverpool Philharmonic); Vaughan Williams A Sea Symphony (Tokyo Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonia Orchestra) Mahler Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (London Philharmonic Orchestra; Mendelssohn St Paul (RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra); Haydn Harmoniemesse (Irish Chamber Orchestra); Handel Messiah (Irish Baroque Orchestra); and Verdi Requiem (Cork International Choral Festival).

Notable recordings include The Vanishing Bridegroom with the BBC Symphony Orchestra (NMC Recordings); The Aspern Papers with the Ulster Orchestra (Lyriata); James Joyce’s Musical Dublin with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra (RTÉ lyric fm); and Sunlight and Shadow with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra (RTÉ lyric fm).

An Accredited Member of Vocal Health Education, he most recently completed the Singing-Informed Voice Rehabilitation course to further his understanding and passion for vocal health and for training and guiding classical singers. His teaching has at its foundation an holistic, biopsychosocial approach, with a thorough working knowledge of modern vocal pedagogy. His students continue to emerge on both national and international stages, while continuing his own research and performance schedule.