Hailed for his ‘gorgeous lyric voice’, Scottish tenor Matthew McKinney is quickly establishing a reputation for his nuanced artistry, innate musicality and expressive performance across opera, song and concert. Winner of the 2024 Kathleen Ferrier Award main prize, Matthew made a principal debut at Glyndebourne last season in the world premiere of Mark Anthony Turnage’s The Railway Children, followed by a debut with English National Opera in the spring. In recital, he recently made his debut at Carnegie Hall, as one of their Song Studio Artists, and returned to Wigmore Hall as a member of the French Song Exchange. On the concert stage, he recently performed alongside the Sixteen and Britten Sinfonia for the world premiere of Sir James MacMillan’s Angels Unawares in the Sistine Chapel.
Over recent years Matthew has been fortunate to perform a wide variety of musical styles, and to establish himself as an accomplished recitalist. His love of art song, new music, and most of all the traditional songs he grew up with for the foundations of his identity as a singer. Alongside his duo partner Roelof Temmingh, they have curated a programme called ‘Finding Freedom’, where they aim to blend the traditional recital format with distinctive, contemporary elements. ‘Finding Freedom’ has been presented in recitals across the UK and Ireland for Bechstein Hall, Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, Westbourne Musical Festival, Cambridge Summer Music Festival, and Whiddon Autumn Festival among others.
Highlights of recent seasons include Beethoven’s An Die Ferne Geliebte as part of the newly compiled work Do Not Take My Story for a Fairy Tale for English Touring Opera, Bach’s St Matthew Passion for Dunedin Consort, cover Bardolfo Falstaff for Glyndebourne Festival Opera, and Luigino Il viaggio a Reims and Rustighello Lucrezia Borgia in new productions for English Touring Opera. Other roles include Tsar The Snow Maiden, Damon Acis & Galatea (Ryedale Festival) and Henrik A Little Night Music (Opera North, Buxton International Festival).
On the concert platform, Matthew’s repertoire includes Bach’s St John Passion, Handel’s Messiah, Haydn’s Creation, Mendelssohn’s Elijah, Mozart’s Requiem, Puccini’s Messe Di Gloria (The Orchestra of Scottish Opera), and Macmillan’s All the Hills and Vales Along.
Alongside his growing career as a soloist, Matthew has a passion for community music and music outreach. Over the years Matthew has loved conducting community choirs, touring new opera for children around England, helping run interactive music workshops for toddlers, and being a part of charity organisations like Streetwise Opera. He hopes to continue growing this part of his career for as long as he works. He feels this is a core part of who he is as a singer and musician.