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Inverness young tenor Glen Cunningham to release debut album after turning professional singing dream into an international reality





Glen Cunningham thought that becoming a professional singer internationally was the kind of thing that only happened in dreams.

However, the former Culloden Academy student has made that dream a reality, and now he is preparing to release his first album later this month.

He was 15 when he first performed in front of people, singing a song from Les Miserable at a school show, and that sparked action.

Mr Cunningham started training under Colin Lewis, occasionally performing in both Nairn and Inverness while doing so, and went to the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland at 18 years old when he left school.

After four years there he graduated to the Royal College of Music in London for his masters, eventually finding his way to their Opera Studio.

Glen Cunningham spent seven years training to be a professional classical singer.
Glen Cunningham spent seven years training to be a professional classical singer.

It took seven years of studying and training, and he was unfortunate to move into the professional sphere in the summer of 2020 – when no performances or productions could run because of the Covid-19 pandemic.

However, he has since moved to Strasbourg, and over recent months has performed in four different countries across Europe.

“I always liked to sing, but it’s not really a career that you think of when you’re young,” Mr Cunningham, now 29, reflected.

“It’s just a dream, but when I met Colin Lewis for the first time, he thought I could have a career in music if I wanted to. That opened my world – if I could have a career in singing, why wouldn’t I go after something that I love?

“I was basically told I wasn’t going to get into the Conservatoire, because hundreds of applicants get whittled down to 18 students per year, and only two per voice type, but I did and that was really the starting point for everything that has come since.

“I knew I wanted to sing, but I still didn’t really understand what it took to be an opera singer. It was only at the Conservatoire that my eyes were opened.

“When I graduated, it was a bit of a strange time. Obviously it was the worst time to enter the industry because there was no work for a year.

Glen Cunningham stepped into the industry at arguable the most challenging time possible.
Glen Cunningham stepped into the industry at arguable the most challenging time possible.

“Thankfully, since then I’ve been in solid work and my career has restarted. I jumped at the chance to move to Strasbourg, even though I wasn’t sure what to do because it was a big move, but there are a lot more opportunities for opera and classical music in Europe.

“I took it, and I’m so glad I did because it has opened so many doors.

“This season alone I’ve worked in four countries, which is the dream. I’ve had my Swiss and German debuts, and I will be making my debut in the Netherlands next season.

“Hopefully it will only continue to grow, but when I take a step back I realise that this is always what I wanted to do. You have to be very strong to make it through so much competition and critique, but I am so grateful that I’m making a living doing what I love.”

Throughout all of his accomplishments to date, Mr Cunningham’s personal career highlight was performing the title role of Albert Herring in Britten's opera with his home company of Scottish Opera.

That felt like a full circle moment, and another of those will come on January 24 when his debut album ‘My Heart’s in the Highlands’ is released.

The album artwork for singer Glen Cunningham's debut album, My Heart's In The Highlands.
The album artwork for singer Glen Cunningham's debut album, My Heart's In The Highlands.

The release has been in the works since 2022, and is based on poetry from Scots writers Robert Burns and Robert Louis Stevenson.

Working alongside friend and pianist Anna Tillbrook, there is also an original piece composed especially for the album by another Invernessian, Stuart MacRae.

It will be released on Delphian Records, who have a Highland connection themselves through a managing partner who is from Inverness, so the pieces have all fallen into place for Mr Cunningham.

“I thought it was important, if I was going to do a debut album, that it had something to do with my roots,” he said.

“There are so many beautiful Scottish songs that I have sung from a young age, and that are really beautiful classically.

“I’m really excited about it, it’s all ready, and two of the singles have been released already. Two more singles will be coming out leading up to the launch.

“It will be really exciting to show that off to the world. I will be singing in the Highlands for the first time in a long time, because we’re coming up and doing a recital with Music Nairn on April 18. It’s nice that I’m getting to return and bring this music back home.

My Heart's In The Highlands will be bringing Glen Cunningham home to perform later this year. Picture: Foxbrush
My Heart's In The Highlands will be bringing Glen Cunningham home to perform later this year. Picture: Foxbrush

“There aren’t a lot of people in this industry from the Highlands of Scotland. I tried to come up with a different title for the album because I didn’t want to be cheesy, but it’s true to me and true to what’s in the album.

“I am proud to sing these Scottish songs and I am proud to be from the Highlands. Hearing it back, it really means a lot, and I think getting to perform it back home will be quite emotional.”


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