About | Classical Singing

John Bispham

Bass/Bass-Baritone & Singing Teacher

I am an experienced bass/bass-baritone and singing teacher based in central Cambridge. I have performed professionally with Opera North, Pinchgut Opera, Cantillation Choir, Co-Opera, Elemental Opera, Saint Mary’s Cathedral, and as a freelance soloist for many wonderful choral societies in Australia and the UK (www.johnbispham.com/performance). I have been teaching singing successfully to all ages since 2009 (e.g. Sydney Vocal Arts (AUS)), and am currently welcoming students at my private studio in Cambridge (CB1).

I first started singing as a young treble chorister and soloist performing with the Knabenkantorei Basel and at the Opernhaus Basel (CH), eventually studying music and music composition at the University of Birmingham, before specialising with a postgraduate diploma in vocal and opera studies at the Royal Northern College of Music. Between 2013-2020 my professional vocal development continued privately with Michelle Wegwart (Opera National de Paris/Bolshoi Opera). In shorter bursts I have also taken valued lessons with Peter Wilson (RNCM), David Ciavarella (Musa Lirica, IT), Lynette Alcantara (BBC Singers); Susan McCulloch (GSMD), and Felicity Cook (Voiceworks). I have also studied the major european languages and piano/piano accompaniment to diploma level (LTCL).

My most consistent inspiration, both in my own practice and in teaching, is the old Italian school of ‘Bel Canto’ (beautiful singing) and the very special singers who have represented the pinnacles of this tradition (e.g. Renata Tebaldi, Alfredo Kraus, Plinio Clabassi and many others). Although primarily rooted primarily in opera and song, it has been my experience that the exercises and healthy vocal foundations of this technique are equally valuable to choral singers, and performers of music theatre.

My practice and teaching are also supported uniquely by PhD level research at the University of Cambridge into music psychology, acoustic sciences, vocal anatomy and communication. More information on this is available at www.johnbispham.com/research.

Testimonials:

“… with John Bispham (Bass) shining throughout as Colline and especially in his moving aria (Vecchia zimmara, senti)”. La Boheme (Co-Opera); reviewed in ‘Opera Now’.

“… The bass arias were extremely well sung by John Bispham - a lyric bass with an even warm sound and enviable vocal control, particularly in the complex coloratura passages. Messiah (Cumberland Choral Society); reviewed in ‘Whitehaven News’.