Dartington Financial Assistance Award

Grange Park Opera Scholarship

"Gemma Morsley’s waspy Marcellina is an absolute delight, getting right to the heart of the role with her finely-honed mezzo." - Operissima (2018)

"The Valkyries were a terrifying lot, especially Becca Marriott’s Ortlinde and Gemma Morsley’s Grimgerde – their glee as they hauled the bloodied body bags (those were some slender heroes) and their terror at the implications of their sister’s deed, were enough to send any would-be warrior off the field lest he should catch their gaze." - Music OMH (2017)

"Gemma Morsley did not disappoint, bringing both sensual fire and intriguing vulnerability to Maddalena, as well as a well-judged sense of comedy" - Bachtrack (2014)

"The singing is of a high standard throughout with no weak links, but Gemma Morsley as Dorabella stands out" - WhatOnStage (2011)

"A soaring voice and acting talent" Extra! Extra! (2009)

Gemma Morsley is a British mezzo-soprano and actress. Versatile and inventive, she is equally at home in dramatic, lyric and character roles.
She studies in London with voice teacher David Barrell.

Gemma has sung with companies across the UK, Europe and the Far East including Grange Park Opera, Festival d’Aix-en-Provence, BBC Proms, OperaUpClose, London Festival Opera and Dartington International Festival. Recent work has included several recording projects with Opera Rara including the International Opera Awards 2023 'Best Complete Opera Recording' Il proscritto. She also recently reprised her role as Mrs Bear OperaUpClose's revival of Peace at Last by Robin Norton-Hale and Joanna Lee and in 2024 will make her debut as Amneris in Aida with Guildford Opera Company and return to the role of Carmen.

Gemma's operatic credits include the title role in Carmen for Opera South East, Grimgerde in Die Walküre for Grange Park Opera, Amneris in Aida for Guildford Opera, Flora in La traviata at the King’s Head Theatre, Maddalena in Rigoletto (France and UK tour), Larina in Eugene Onegin for OperaUpClose, Marcellina in Le nozze di Figaro for the Dartington International Festival, and on a Merry Opera tour with jazz arrangements by Harry Sever. Further roles include Dorabella in Così fan tutte for Oyster Opera at Jacksons Lane Theatre and more recently for the inaugural season of Opera Chez Cartier in Charente, La Ciesca in Gianni Schicchi for Fulham Opera, Gertrude in Romeo et Juliette for Arcadian Opera, 2nd Squire/3rd Flowermaiden in Parsifal for Elemental Opera, and Flora/Annina in La traviata with Merry Opera (UK and Malaysian tours). She has performed Second and Third Ladies in Die Zauberflöte several times including for the Zeist Opera Festival in the Netherlands, Oyster Opera at St John’s Smith Square and at Riverside Studios.

Carving a niche for herself in strong character roles, other stage work includes Mrs Sowerberry & Mrs Bedwin in Oliver! and Fruma-Sarah in Fiddler on the Roof with Bryn Terfel as Tevye, both for Grange Park Opera and the BBC Proms. She was part of the ensemble for six tours of John Ramster’s acclaimed staged Messiah, and recently created the role of Mrs Bear in Joanna Lee’s family opera Peace At Last commissioned by OperaUpClose and based on the picture book by Jill Murphy. She also played the role of the White Witch in Creation Theatre’s production of The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe and has given numerous performances from the G&S canon including Iolanthe, H.M.S. Pinafore, The Mikado and Patience.

Chorus work includes Opera Holland Park, Grange Park Opera, Opera Rara, Opera Project at West Green House and English Voices at Festival d’Aix-en-Provence.

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