Biography

Charles Cunliffe is a Bass-Baritone studying with Giles Underwood and Joseph Middleton at the Royal Academy of Music. Charles began singing as a chorister at Peterborough Cathedral under Andrew Reid, singing solos on television recordings for BBC One, as well as on broadcasts for BBC Radio 3. As a choral scholar at Peterborough, Charles gained a deeper understanding in professional singing, and after auditioning, was offered a scholarship to the Royal Academy of Music. Charles has been part of many projects at the RAM, highlights including the RAO’s production of Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortilèges, Mahler’s 2^nd Symphony at the Royal Festival Hall under Semyon Bychkov, and the annual Royal Academy Chamber Choir residency at Neresheim Abbey, Germany. Charles has a strong affinity for song, and this summer, Charles recorded the baritone solos in both Vaughan Williams’ Love bade me welcome and Finzi’s In terra pax for BBC Radio 3, alongside the Ulster Orchestra. This is to be broadcast on New Year’s Day. Charles is a member of the Academy’s ‘Song Circle’, and this October he was awarded second prize in the Academy’s English Song competition. This October, Charles was selected as the Royal Academy of Music outstanding student of the year, and is to be presented the Silver Medal by the Worshipful Company of Musicians. He is now enjoying his fourth year as an undergraduate, and has now been awarded a full scholarship, so to carry on his studies into the post-graduate programme.

Musicians’ Company Award: 2019 Silver Medal – RAM

Page Updated: Jan 2020

Photograph: @alicecunliffephotography