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About Seán
Beginnings
Irish tenor Seán Tester discovered his passion for the performing arts at the Drogheda School of Performing Arts (the Little Duke Theatre), where he studied drama, dance, and singing. Alongside his theatrical training, Seán developed a strong foundation in choral music as a dedicated member of St. Peter's Male Voice Choir, Drogheda — a formative experience that continues to shape his musical instincts and ensemble sensibility.
Seán completed the Recital Artist Diploma at the Royal Irish Academy of Music (RIAM), studying with Owen Gilhooly-Miles. In 2023, he was awarded the BVOF | RIAM John Pollard Bursary, which enabled him to pursue a Master’s in Music Performance (Vocal Studies) at the RIAM, continuing under the mentorship of Owen Gilhooly-Miles and vocal coach Dearbhla Collins.
Opera
Opera lies at the centre of Seán’s artistic identity. A natural fit for the lirico-leggero tenor repertoire, he brings vocal clarity, agility, and dramatic instinct to every role — qualities that continue to define his growing presence on both national and international stages.
Seán's international role debut came in Switzerland as 'Rodolphe' in Rossini’s Guillaume Tell in a co-production between Irish National Opera and Nouvel Opéra Fribourg / Neue Oper Freiburg (NOF). He has since performed a variety of roles including 'Man with an Old Suitcase', 'Puppet No. 1', and 'Operetta Singer' in Dominic Argento’s Postcard from Morocco (RIAM Opera), and 'Mopsa' in Purcell’s The Fairy Queen at the Korkyra Baroque Festival on the island of Korčula, Croatia and the Sligo Baroque Festival. He has worked extensively with Irish National Opera, appearing in productions of Guillaume Tell, Faust, La Bohème, La Traviata, The Flying Dutchman and Rigoletto, and covered the role of 'Il Duca di Mantova' (The Duke of Mantua) in Rigoletto.
In 2023, he debuted at the Blackwater Valley Opera Festival in recital as a BVOF|RIAM John Pollard Bursary Artist, returning in 2025 to perform the role of 'Snout' in Britten’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as appearing in the festival’s Arias at Villierstown and Irish Writers Series: George Bernard Shaw recitals.
Seán was also featured in Irish National Opera’s Opera at the Movies at Electric Picnic, performing alongside Claudia Boyle, Seán Boylan, Máiréad Hurley, and Sarah Sew. He also sang as part of The Opera Trail, an outdoor performance initiative by the Limerick Opera Festival designed to bring opera to public spaces and new audiences — a testament to his commitment to making opera accessible and alive beyond the traditional stage.
With a focus on refining his craft across a range of styles and stages, Seán is building a career with a clear eye on the international opera scene.
Concert & Oratorio
Seán is a sought-after concert and oratorio soloist, praised for his expressive musicianship and elegant tenor tone. His repertoire includes Handel's Messiah, HWV 56, Bach's Johannes-Passion, BWV 245 (St. John Passion), Orff's Carmina Burana, Beethoven's Fantasia in C minor, Op. 80 (Choral Fantasy), and Haydn’s Die sieben letzten Worte unseres Erlösers am Kreuze (Seven Last Words of Christ), with his most recent oratorio appearance as tenor soloist in Johannes-Passion with the Dublin Bach Singers.
He has performed twice in the acclaimed Sundays at Noon concert series at Dublin’s Hugh Lane Gallery as part of the Dublin Song Series, collaborating with Dearbhla Collins. Other recent highlights include concerts at Killruddery House in support of the Veronica Dunne International Singing Competition, and a featured performance at the Dublin Philharmonic Society’s 40th Season Celebration at Farmleigh House. In January 2025, Seán appeared as guest tenor in the Drogheda Classical Music Series, performing alongside soprano Celine Byrne and pianist David Munro — his debut performance at his hometown classical concert platform and a highlight of the 24/25 season’s programming.
Seán made his international recital debut at the Franz Liszt Old Academy of Music in Budapest, performing to a sold-out audience with his regular collaborative pianist partner, Ella Nagy — a performance that marked a major step in their growing artistic partnership on the recital stage.
He also featured in RIAM ChamberFest 2025, performing Chausson’s Poème de l’amour et de la mer, Op. 19 with pianist Rowel Friers, showcasing his command of the French repertoire and his versatility as a song interpreter.
In June 2025, Seán made his debut at the Dublin International Chamber Music Festival, performing Brahms’s Liebeslieder Walzer, Op. 52 with collaborative pianists Finghin Collins, Dearbhla Collins, and a distinguished vocal ensemble — further establishing his presence across song, oratorio, and chamber music.
Highlights
Seán was the recipient of the Patricia Eberhart Aria Prize at the Irené Sandford Award for Singers 2023, recognised for his performance of “Ah! Mes amis… Pour mon âme” from Donizetti’s La Fille du Régiment. In 2024, he reached the quarterfinals of the International Hans Gabor Belvedere Singing Competition in Jūrmala, Latvia.
He was honoured to be the musical guest at the State Dinner at Áras an Uachtaráin in May 2024, hosted by President Michael D. Higgins in honour of H.E. Mr. Sergio Mattarella, President of Italy — a performance that celebrated both his Irish heritage and growing international profile.
Seán is proud to serve as Series Ambassador for the Drogheda Classical Music Series, a position he continues to hold for the 2025/26 season.
Looking to the future
The 2025/26 season brings exciting milestones for Seán’s career:
He will make his debut at the Wexford Festival Opera as a member of the Wexford Factory, making his role debut as Conte di Libenskof in Rossini’s Il viaggio a Reims. He will also perform in the world premiere of Urban Legends — a new opera trilogy by Andrew Synnott and Colm Tóibín.
Seán also makes his debut with National Symphony Orchestra Ireland in a concert performance of Bizet’s Carmen at the National Concert Hall, Dublin on October 10, 2025, singing the role of El Remendado.
He has been selected as an Accademia dell’Opera Italiana Artist 2025, which will see him participate in an elite training programme across five intensive weekends in London, focusing on advanced Italian operatic style and performance.
As he continues to develop his artistry and expand his repertoire, Seán remains dedicated to connecting with audiences through honest, imaginative, and emotive music-making — both at home in Ireland and further afield.