“Seán Boylan, who is already the perfect young baritone.”

The Arts Desk

With a voice described as ‘rich and sonorous’, Irish baritone Seán Boylan is one of the most exciting emerging talents of today. Seán is a graduate of the Guildhall School of Music and Drama where he received his master’s degree (Distinction) and the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Dublin.  

In the 2024/2025 season, Seán reprises the role of Alcandro in L’Olimpiade with the Irish Baroque Orchestra and Irish National Opera in his Italian debut at the Teatro Tino di Lorenzo in Noto, Sicily. He also returns to Irish National Opera to sing the roles of Marullo in Rigoletto and Frank in Die Fledermaus for performances in Dublin, and on a nationwide Irish tour, respectively. In concert, Seán makes two appearances with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, firstly as the baritone soloist in the Irish premiere of James MacMillan St. John Passion with conductor David Hill, followed by a solo recital of operatic arias in July of this year with Luis Toro Araya. He completes the season by joining Opera North at the Nevill Holt Festival for Guglielmo in Così fan tutte, returning to Opera North in the 25/26 season to make his role debut as Schaunard in La bohème.

Recent operatic roles include Alcandro in L’Olimpiade with Irish National Opera and the Irish Baroque Orchestra conducted by Peter Whelan in Ireland, at the Royal Ballet & Opera, Covent Garden, and in Switzerland at the Nouvel Opéra Fribourg; Guglielmo in Così fan tutte at Garsington Opera; Tarquinius in The Rape of Lucretia at Potsdam Winteroper; Moralès in Carmen with Irish National Opera; the title role in Don Giovanni at Nevill Holt Opera and Pluto/Aristaeus (cover) Orpheus in the Underworld at English National Opera.

As a member of the Alvarez Young Artist Programme at Garsington Opera in 2019 he covered the title role of Don Giovanni, for which he was awarded the Helen Clark Award for his performance of the role at short notice. Other operatic roles include Notaio in Gianni Schicchi (London Schools Symphony Orchestra at Barbican Hall); Novice’s Friend in Billy Budd (St. Endellion Festival); Silvio Pagliacci, Frank in Die Fledermaus, Olivier in Capriccio, Dandini in La Cenerentola, Assan in The Consul and the title role in Ambroise Thomas’ Hamlet (Guildhall School of Music & Drama).

In recital, Seán has performed at Song in the City; LSO St Luke’s; Hugh Lane Gallery in Dublin, Clifden Arts Festival in Galway; St Columba’s Church in Ennis and Rosemary Street, Belfast. He has also performed in concert with the Cambridge Philharmonic, Ulster Orchestra, Galway Cathedral, Dublin’s National Concert Hall, the Drogheda Classical Music Series, and a live broadcast with Irish National Opera and mezzo-soprano Paula Murrihy in Kilkenny Castle, Ireland. He has collaborated with pianist Iain Burnside on “Drums & Guns”, a project commemorating the centenary of World War I and the Dublin Easter 1916 Rising, which was performed in Dublin, London and New York City (Lincoln Center). In theatre, previous productions include Pygmalion forthe Abbey Theatre and Hand Me Down the Moon for the Dublin Fringe Festival.

Seán has participated in masterclasses with Dame Ann Murray (in the Irish Culture in Britain series at Wigmore Hall); Elly Ameling, Robert Holl, Roger Vignoles and Julius Drake (all at the Franz Schubert Institut in Baden bei Wien) and with Graham Johnson as part of the Song Guild at Guildhall School of Music and Drama. Seán was also a semi-finalist in the 42nd International Hans Gabor Belvedere Competition (2024) in Jurmala, Latvia.

Seán studied piano, organ and voice at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (where his singing teacher was Virginia Kerr), receiving many regional and national prizes before focusing his studies on singing. He has been invited to perform for several presidents of Ireland, HM King Charles III and at festivals across Ireland, the United Kingdom and Europe. At the Guildhall School of Music and Drama he was a Guildhall School Scholar and a Gwen Catley Scholar, supported by the Amar-Frances & Foster-Jenkins Trust, and studied with Robert Dean. He was the winner of the NI Opera Festival of Voice 2014.

“…VIVIDLY EVOKED. not only has he a fine baritone voice but also an engaging, polished platform presence.”

The Irish Examiner

This biography is for information only. Please do not share or copy. Seán’s management at IMG Artists can provide you with an updated version. Contact details can be found via this link to IMG Artists.