John Rawnsley-Beginnings

Beginnings

My sister's wedding at Earby in 1959, as Bill Sykes in 'Oliver!'1969, then a concert at Nelson in 1976.

John Rawnsley was born at Colne in Lancashire.

He first had singing lessons at the age of 6 and was singing at an amateur level from the age of eight.

Both John's parents were amateur singers and in 1965 at the tender age of 14, he joined his father as a member of the Colne Orpheus Glee Union, a renowned Male Voice Choir conducted by Ronald Riley who was to have a huge influence on his early musical life.

The following year he joined Colne Amateur Operatic Society, where he played various roles including 'Bill Sykes' in Oliver! - 'Bill Hickock' in Calamity Jane and 'Kipps' in Half a Sixpence.

The concert platform experience and the rudiments of stage craft which he aquired at amateur level, proved a more than useful foundation for life in the Professional Theatre!

However, it was in Studio 1 at BBC Television Centre in London, whilst watching the filming of a production of Rigoletto in 1967 at the age of 16 that Rawnsley first had thoughts of becoming a professional opera singer. He was there at the invitation of his brother who was the assistant designer of the film and the baritone singing the role of 'Rigoletto' was none other than Peter Glossop, whose wonderful singing and characterisation of Verdi's 'Tragic Jester' was to have an inspirational effect on him.

As Smirnov in Walton's The Bear 1973 with Vyna Martyn, and then as Don Quixote 1976

After a period of working in the local cotton industry his singing teacher, a glorious bass/baritone called George Allen, advised him to apply for a place at the Northern School of Music in Manchester.
His application was successful and he studied there and then later at the Royal Northern College of Music with Albert Haskayne and Ellis Keeler.

Whilst at the RNCM he came to prominence singing such roles as 'Smirnov' in William Walton's The Bear, 'Demetrius' in Britten's A Midsummer Night's Dream and 'Amonasro' in Verdi's Aida. After four years of study he left the RNCM in 1975 and joined Glyndebourne Festival Opera as a chorister.
He returned to the RNCM in 1976 to sing again the role of 'Smirnov' and also the role of 'Don Quixote' in di Falla's Master Peter's Puppet Show on the RNCM tour of Scandinavia.

He was awarded Fellowship of the RNCM during the college's tenth anniversary celebrations in 1983.

Demetrius in Britten's 'A Midsummer Night's Dream' 1973. Amonasro in 'Aida' 1974 and Smirnov in Walton's 'The Bear' 1976

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