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About Seán
Beginnings
Irish tenor Seán Tester first discovered his love of performance at the Drogheda School of Performing Arts (the Little Duke Theatre), where he immersed himself in drama, dance, and singing. Alongside theatre, he cultivated a deep connection to choral music as a member of St. Peter’s Male Voice Choir, an experience that shaped his musical instincts and ensemble sensibility.
Seán went on to study at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), completing the Recital Artist Diploma under Owen Gilhooly-Miles. In 2023, he was awarded the BVOF | RIAM John Pollard Bursary, enabling him to pursue a Master’s in Music Performance, from which he graduated with distinction in 2025 under the mentorship of Owen Gilhooly-Miles and vocal coach Dearbhla Collins — a milestone that marks the foundation of his professional career.
Opera
Opera lies at the heart of Seán’s artistry. With a natural affinity for the lirico-leggero tenor repertoire, he combines vocal clarity, agility, and dramatic instinct in roles that showcase both character and craft.
His international debut came in Switzerland as Rodolphe in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell, in a co-production between Irish National Opera (INO) and Nouvel Opéra Fribourg / Neue Oper Freiburg. He has since appeared in Dominic Argento’s Postcard from Morocco (RIAM Opera), Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at the Korkyra Baroque Festival and Sligo Baroque Festival, and in numerous INO productions including Faust, La Bohème, La Traviata, The Flying Dutchman, and Rigoletto, where he also covered the role of Il Duca di Mantova.
Festival appearances include his recital debut at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival (2023) as a John Pollard Bursary Artist, returning in 2025 to perform Snout in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and in festival concerts celebrating opera and Irish writing. He has also featured in INO’s Opera at the Movies at Electric Picnic and the Limerick Opera Festival’s Opera Trail, bringing opera to new spaces and audiences.
Concert & Oratorio
Equally at home on the concert platform, Seán is recognised for the expressive warmth of his tenor voice and his versatility across repertoire. His performances span Handel’s Messiah, Bach’s St. John Passion, Orff’s Carmina Burana, Beethoven’s Choral Fantasy, and Haydn’s Seven Last Words of Christ, with recent highlights including St. John Passion with the Dublin Bach Singers.
He has appeared twice in Dublin’s Sundays at Noon concert series with Dearbhla Collins, sung in support of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition at Killruddery House, and performed at the Dublin Philharmonic Society’s 40th anniversary at Farmleigh. In January 2025, he made his hometown debut in the Drogheda Classical Music Series, performing alongside Celine Byrne and David Munro.
On the international stage, Seán and pianist Ella Nagy gave a sold-out recital at the Franz Liszt Academy in Budapest, marking an important step in their partnership. Recent projects include Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer at RIAM ChamberFest, and Brahms’s Liebeslieder Walzer at the Dublin International Chamber Music Festival with Finghin Collins, Dearbhla Collins, and ensemble — performances that highlight his growing presence in song, oratorio, and chamber music.
Highlights
Seán’s artistry has been recognised with awards including the Patricia Eberhart Aria Prize at the 2023 Irené Sandford Award, and in 2024 he reached the quarterfinals of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Latvia.
A career highlight came in May 2024, when he was invited to perform at the State Dinner at Áras an Uachtaráin in honour of President Sergio Mattarella of Italy, hosted by President Michael D. Higgins. He is also proud to serve as Series Ambassador for the Drogheda Classical Music Series, a role he continues into the 2025/26 season.
Looking to the future
The 2025/26 season marks a period of exciting debuts for Seán. He joins the Wexford Factory at Wexford Festival Opera, where he will sing Conte di Libenskof in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims and appear in the world premiere of Urban Legends by Andrew Synnott and Colm Tóibín. He will also debut with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in Bizet’s Carmen at the National Concert Hall, performing the role of El Remendado.
In recognition of his growing international profile, Seán has been selected as an Accademia dell’Opera Italiana Artist 2025, joining an elite programme in London dedicated to Italian operatic style and performance.
Seán is also relocating to Berlin, where he is excited to explore new opportunities and collaborations as he continues to grow his career on the international stage. With a career that bridges opera, oratorio, and song, Seán remains committed to sharing honest, imaginative, and emotionally direct performances with audiences in Ireland and abroad.