Patrick Dunachie



First Countertenor

Forthcoming Events (1)

Friday 27th June 2025, 8:00 pm: The King’s Singers – Angels and Demons

Biography

I was born in 1993 into a family of musicians and at the age of five started learning piano with my father, and singing in my local church choir. I later became a chorister at Hereford Cathedral under Geraint Bowen, and it was here that my love of choral music took hold. I developed a passion for early music in particular, and became fascinated by the countertenor voice. When my voice changed a few years later, I decided to give it a go. Sure enough, my falsetto voice worked alright, so I committed to it. On leaving school, I won a scholarship to Cambridge University to study Music, and to sing in King’s College Choir under Stephen Cleobury.

During three unforgettable years there, I toured all over the world, recorded CDs and sang in national radio and television broadcasts each year. But my main joy during that time was singing the daily services in one of the world’s most beautiful buildings, while studying music history, analysis, and composition. All of this encouraged me to pursue music beyond university, so after graduating I moved to Oxford to become a Lay Clerk at Christ Church Cathedral. During this time I taught at a local school, performed as a freelance soloist and in a number of ensembles (including Ex Cathedra, The King’s Consort, Gesualdo Six and Westminster Cathedral Choir). I found time for my other interests too with lots of walking in the countryside, cooking, a good deal of graphic design work, and on top of all that a few rounds of auditions for The King’s Singers, who had invited me to audition! I was appointed to the group in January 2016.

During the seven years since, I have had a wonderful time as a member of this group. I have loved performing many hundreds of concerts in amazing places around the world with my five brilliant colleagues, meeting thousands of people from many different walks of life, and having once-in-a-lifetime experiences almost every month. But I also love how much you learn in this role. Doing this job, I’ve learned so much from the other guys, I’ve learned about running a business, I’ve learned about creative writing, public speaking, about food, digital media and marketing, about languages, coffee, and (of course) singing. When not on the road, rehearsing or recording, I enjoy a fairly quiet life in Richmond, London with my wife Ellie and our little spaniel, Albie. In what free time I have, I am a keen student of foreign affairs, I write a restaurant review blog called Touring Tables, am a very keen cook, and love to go walking in remote places.

Links

The Arts at St. George's