Biography

British bass Jamie Woollard is a recent alumnus of the Jette Parker Artist programme, praised for his ‘regal poise and charisma’ (The Spectator) and his ‘terrifically sonorous bass, as deeply coloured as mahogany’ (Opera Today). As a young artist at the Royal Opera House he performed roles included Zaretsky (Eugene Onegin), Zuniga (Carmen), Il Conte di Ceprano (Rigoletto), Dumas (Andrea Chénier), Sciarrone (Tosca), and sung for Brindley Sherratt in the general rehearsal of Jephtha as Zebul. His cover roles on the programme included Timur (Turandot), King of Egypt (Aida), Colline (La bohème), Orest’s Tutor (Elektra), and Angelotti (Tosca).

On graduation from the Royal College of Music Opera Studio in 2023 Jamie was named a BBC Music Magazine “Rising Star’ and joined the Jerwood Young Artist programme at Glyndebourne Opera Festival that same year. He made his debut there as Thierry in Barrie Kosky’s new production of Dialogues des Carmélites.

Jamie’s 2025/26 Season includes returns to the Royal Opera as Count Ceprano in Rigoletto and to Glyndebourne Festival as Snug in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. He also makes his debut at Opera North as Antonio and Bartolo (cover) in Le Nozze di Figaro, and the Grange Festival as Colline in La bohème and Gremin (cover) in Eugene Onegin, as well as Il Commendatore in Don Giovanni at Waterperry Opera. His future plans include Angelotti in Tosca alongside Bryn Terfel as Scarpia for the inaugural Season of Oxford International Opera and making his debut at Bayerische Staatsoper in Britten’s Death in Venice.

Jamie’s recent concert highlights include performing Handel’s Messiah with the City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the premiere of Teresa Barlow’s Requiem with Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Haydn’s L'infedeltà delusa at Cadogan Hall with The Mozartists, the title role in Handel’s Saul with The Consort of Twelve, and works by Purcell and Stradella at Lerici Music Festival with Vache Baroque.

At the Royal College of Music, Jamie performed roles including Sarastro (Die Zauberflöte), Jupiter (Orpheus in the Underworld),Immigration Officer (Flight) and Il Re (La bella dormente nel bosco). Whilst studying he debuted at the Royal Opera House in the premiere of three opera scenes (Lost and Found, March ‘22) including Bass aria ‘Detritus’ (Laura Reid), and covered Segeste & Tullio in Handel’s Arminio (Linbury Theatre, April ‘23). Other credits include: Apollo & Titye (La descente d'Orphée, Charpentier) for Vache Baroque Festival, Saul (Saul, Handel) with Consort of Twelve, and Polyphemus (Acis & Galatea) for Eboracum Baroque.