terndale Singers

David Watkin-Holmes originates from Herefordshire and sang with the National Youth Choir of Great Britain before studying music performance at the Royal Welsh College of Music & Drama and the Birmingham Conservatoire, where he was awarded the St Clare Barfield Rose Bowl for Operatic Distinction. He was also a scholar in the Samling Artist Programme with Sir Thomas Allen, as well as a finalist in the Sir Geraint Evans Memorial Competition and winner of the Mario Lanza Opera Competition.

David Watkin-Holmes, vocal coach

He studied traditional Italian School bel canto as well as modern Estill Voice Training methods with two of the country's foremost exponents, Neil Howlett and Paul Farrington respectively.

As a teacher David specialises in classical, crossover and musical theatre styles.

As a performer his repertory is wide-ranging and includes the premieres of several dramatic works with recordings for the Mirasound Klassiek, Naxos Marco Polo and Priory Records labels.  Other notable performances are for RTÉ Radio with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Wexford Festival Opera and Co-Opera Ireland, the Fontys and Koninklijk Conservatoria and at the Amsterdam Stadsschouwburg and Koninklijke Schouwburg in the Netherlands, European Chamber Opera, Mid Wales Opera (five seasons), and several with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and English National Opera Studio in the UK.

David is a Fellow of both the Higher Education Academy and the Incorporated Society of Musicians, as well as a member of the British Voice Association. In addition to his private teaching practice he is a Senior Lecturer in Voice at the Leeds Conservatoire, an External Examiner and Lecturer for the University of Huddersfield, and formerly Head of Singing at the Birmingham School of Acting.

Vocal Coach