Collin Shay

Collin Shay is a French-American countertenor based in London. Shay is currently studying at The Guildhall School of Music and Drama on the Opera Course, where his roles include Oberon in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Cupid in John Blow’s Venus and Adonis.

In December he makes a return to ROH at the Linbury Theatre, singing in The Lost Thing by Jules Maxwell and Ben Wright. He will also cover the role of Serafino in Gerald Barry’s The Intelligence Park, for Music Theatre Wales at the Linbury Theatre.

Future projects include the world premiere of Lliam Paterson’s The Angel Esmeralda, co-commissioned by Scottish Opera and GSMD, as well as participating in an open space residency at Snape Maltings, performing in Bermondsey, 1983 by Robert Allen and Gareth Mattey.

2018 saw his debut for the Royal Opera as the leading role of Yoel in Na’ama Zisser’s new opera, Mamzer Bastard. Recent recording appearances include works by Cheryl Frances Hoad with Alisdair Hogarth for Champs Hill Records, as well as works of Tunder and Buxtehude with Musica Poetica for the Veterum Musica label.

In 2017 he sang Ottone in L’Incoronazione di Poppea with Hampstead Garden Opera, and performed Cheryl Frances Hoad’s piece Invoke Now the Angels  at Wigmore Hall with The Prince Consort Side-by-Side. Other operatic roles include the title role of Cavalli’s Giasone, Silvio in Handel’s Il Pastor Fido, Tolomeo in Handel’s Giulio Cesare, Goffredo in Handel’s Rinaldo.

Shay started his countertenor training at the age of 16 at the Juilliard School’s Pre-College Division, and later when on to receive a bachelor’s degree in music at McGill University in Montréal, Canada. After moving to London to complete postgraduate studies at the Guildhall School of Music, he then completed a fellowship in the historical performance department as a keyboard player. He was the winner of the first ever Brian Nisbet Early Music Prize at the Guildhall with the sackbut and vocal ensemble, Sacred Bones. His studies are generously supported by The Amar-Jenkins Foundation and The Worshipful Company of Weavers.