Jonathan Forbes Kennedy
Scottish Baritone Jonathan Forbes Kennedy graduated from the Alexander Gibson Opera School at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in July 2022, under the tutelage of Scott Johnson. His studies were supported with a scholarship from the ABRSM.He previously studied on the BMus (Hons) and MMus (Perf) at RCS with Alan Watt.
During his time at Opera School, Jonathan performed and covered a variety of roles. In his first year he covered the role of Achilla in Händel’s Giulio Cesare, which was sadly cancelled due to the Covid-19 pandemic. However, in his second year, he sang the role of Paul in Philip Glass’s Les enfants terribles, based on the novel by Jean Cocteau. This production was designed to be filmed and was screened in Glasgow in December 2023. Jonathan also performed the roles of Der Vater in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, and the Steward in Jonathan Dove’s Flight. While at the RCS Jonathan also took part in a number of Masterclasses with Operatic stalwarts such as Sir John Tomlinson, Roderick Williams, Christopher Purves and John Anthony-Graham, and has also worked with renowned American Mezzo-soprano Jennifer Larmore in a masterclass series in Luxembourg.
In summer 2022, he sang in the chorus at Grange Park Opera, where he also sang the substantial roles of Postdatedcek (originally Oblačný) and Vacek in Sir David Pountey’s acclaimed production of Janáček’s The Excursions of Mr Broucek. This production was later broadcast on BBC Radio 3. He later sang in the chorus for Grange Park’s Gods of the Game, performing the role of the Bull, which was filmed and was broadcast on Sky Arts in November 2022.
Other operatic roles include: Der Vater in Hänsel und Gretel (Berlin Opera Academy), Antonio in Le Nozze di Figaro (RCS), The Host of the Garter Inn in Sir John in Love (RCS), Il Conte in Le Nozze di Figaro (Opera Dei Lumi), The Speaker in The Magic Flute (Waterperry Opera Festival).
Outside of Opera, Jonathan enjoys a busy schedule performing as a soloist for Choral and Orchestral Societies throughout the UK. He is also passionate about recitals and performs a wide variety of song repertoire. Recent recitals have been based on themes such as Serenades and Serenaders and Songs of Hope and Sorrow. He appeared on RTÉ Lyric FM as a step out soloist in Bach’s Mass in B minor with Sestina and the Irish Baroque Orchestra in April 2022, conducted by Peter Whelan. In 2019/20 he was a Bridging the gap young artist with the Dunedin Consort.
In Spring 2023, Jonathan will be part of the Merry Opera Company’s staged tour of Händel’s Messiah, directed by John Ramster.