Biography

Wilhelm Theunissen is a professional tenor and singing teacher based in Worcester, England. He studied singing in his native South Africa with Professor Werner Nel before continuing his postgraduate studies in Italy and Germany. He returned to lecture in South Africa where he developed a programme to take classical singing into the townships. This eventually resulted in launching the careers of several opera singers, including that of bass baritone Vuyani Mlinde, currently a member of Opera Frankfurt. Wilhelm performed in all the major concert venues in South Africa.

Among the highlights were performances in Il Seraglio, Le Nozze di Figaro, Il Barbiere di Siviglia and Tosca. Wilhelm’s specialism is in the world of oratorio. He has sung the role of the Evangelist for Bach’s St Matthew and St John Passions on many occasions, in both German and English. Since moving to England in 2003, Wilhelm has pursued a teaching and performing career. Apart from the role of the Evangelists, he has performed solo in Handel’s Messiah and Ode to St Cecilia, Haydn’s Creation, the Verdi Requiem, Britten’s Company of Heaven and Elgar’s Coronation Ode. Wilhelm gives regular recitals of lieder by Schumann and Schubert for concert clubs around the country and has performed with various ensembles, including the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra, the English Symphony Orchestra, the Manchester Camerata and the BBC National Chorus of Wales. He currently runs his own studio in Worcester and teaches at the Royal Grammar School Worcester and the Elgar School of Music in the same city.