Michael Butchard holds a Bachelor of Arts (Music and Germanic Studies) degree from the University of Sydney and an Advanced Diploma of Opera from the Sydney Conservatorium of Music where he studied with Dr Rowena Cowley. In 2013 he graduated with Master of Performance (Vocal Performance) from the Royal College of Music, London (RCM), where he studied Justin Lavender and was the recipient of the Vivian Prins Award. Michael’s studies were further aided by bursaries from the Opera and Arts Support Group, the NSW Music Teachers Association and the Royal School of Church Music NSW branch.
After graduating, Michael was active as a freelance singer with companies across the UK such as English Touring Opera, London Voices, the Philharmonia Chorus and Garsington Opera and continued his vocal studies in London with Raymond Connell. Once more based in Sydney, he continues to work with Glenn Winslade.
In demand on the concert platform, his recent concert performances include the Evangelist in Bach’s St Matthew Passion, Tenor Soloist in Bach’s St John Passion, Messiah, and gala concerts with Pacific Opera and Willoughby Symphony Orchestra.
Michael’s recent operatic roles include Alfredo in La Traviata (Opera New England), Frank Wild and Thoralf Sorlle in the contemporary opera Shackleton’s Cat (English Touring Opera), Tamino in Die Zauberflöte (Woodhouse Opera Festival), Pasek (cover) in The Cunning Little Vixen (Garsington Festival Opera), Ferrando in Così Fan Tutte (Focus Opera), Ernesto in Don Pasquale (Pavilion Opera), Remendado in Carmen (Woodhouse Opera Festival), Rodolfo in La Boheme (Opera at Bearwood) and 2nd Soldier in Monteverdi’s L’incoronazione di Poppea (RCM International Opera School/English Touring Opera).
Future engagements include several roles in the contemporary opera Pecan Summer with Short Black Opera at the Sydney Opera House Concert Hall (September 2016), Elvino in La Sonnambula for Operantics/Penrith Symphony Orchestra (September 2016) and Lensky in Eugene Onegin for Co-Opera (December 2016).
