Director of Music

Dale Wills

 

 

A graduate of Chetham's School of Music, the University of Oxford, and the Guildhall School of Music & Drama, Dale Wills is a highly versatile musician. Originally training as an Organist and Harpsichordist, Dale became closely involved with the work of the vocal department at Chetham's. Projects included Mozart's Le Nozze di Figaro (abb.), Purcell's Dido and Aeneas, and various opera scenes with young singers. Whilst still at school, Dale became répétiteur and continuo player for the Yorke Trust/RNCM opera festival, coaching Il Ritorno D'Ulisse in Patria, Hippolyte et Aricie, and Giulio Cesare. Dale also won the répétiteur scholarship with New Chamber Opera to St Catherine's College Oxford. With New Chamber Opera he performed Mozart's La Finta Giardiniera, Handel's Amadigi di Gaula, Rossini's Il Signor Bruschino, and Arne's Thomas and Sally. He also worked with Garsington Festival Opera (Zauberflöte) and Oxford City Opera (La Bohéme and La Pique Dame). Keen to explore other musical styles, Dale voice coached for Deep Blue Theatre, producing Chess the Musical, A Chorus Line, Cabaret (Edinburgh Festival), West Side Story, and Return to the Forbidden Planet (Oxford Playhouse). He was also appointed as Musical Director of the Oxford University Chorus, with whom he gave a performance of the rarely heard Confitebor Tibi by Samuel Wesley. While at GSMD, where he continued his répétiteur studies he took on opportunities such as: as assistant conductor for Beatrice et Benedict, and played the piano for The Rape of Lucretia. Since graduating, Dale has worked with British Youth Opera, Second Movement Opera, Opera East, SoPopera, Floral Opera, London Opera Vocal, the Royal Choral Society, and the BBC Singers. He has also returned to the GSMD to work on Mignon and Falstaff. Dale is currently combining his career as a freelance musician with working in the Business Affairs department at Boosey & Hawkes Music Publishers.

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