At the 2015 Kathleen Ferrier Competition young soprano Gemma Lois Summerfield ‘swept the board’ winning both the prestigious 1st prize and the Loveday Song Prize. These awards are gratefully received by Gemma in full recognition of the efforts exhibited by duo partner pianist Sebastian Wybrew, teacher Rosa Mannion and coach Simon Lepper.

Gemma has sung the roles of First Lady Die Zauberflöte; Annina La Traviata and La Chauve-Souris and Une Pastourelle L’enfant et les sortilèges. She has also played Vixen, Musetta, Ludmilla and Ilia in opera scenes from The Cunning Little Vixen, La Boheme, Bartered Bride and Idomeneo respectively. Among her solo oratorio performances are Messe Basse (Church of the Madeleine, Paris); Carmina Burana (City Halls, Glasgow); and Elijah (Holy Trinity, Sloane Square).

Gemma is a graduate of the Georg Solti Accademia and Oxenfoord International Summer School and has taken part in masterclasses with Barbara Frittoli, Leo Nucci, Richard Bonynge, Sarah Connolly, Susan Bullock, Joan Rodgers, and renowned accompanists Malcolm Martineau and Roger Vignoles. Additional accolades include The Cuthbert Smith Prize (Lies Askonas Competition 2014), The Governors’ Recital Prize for Voice 2013, and The Norma Grieg Prize for French Song 2013.

Gemma joined the Royal College of Music International Opera School in September and has upcoming recitals for The Kathleen Ferrier Awards, St John’s Smith Square; The Oxford Lieder Festival, Holywell Music Room; Ye Cronies, Glasgow; and The South Kensington and Chelsea Music Society, Leighton House. She is also an active participant on the Live Music Now scheme and is supported by the Josephine Baker Trust.