Alison Wells was born in Yorkshire and originally trained as a pianist. She read Mathematics and Music at London University and then spent a year at the Royal Academy of Music, after which she began her vocal studies. She made her South Bank début in the Park Lane Group's January Series, and in the same year sang the Governess in The Turn of the Screw and took part in Elisabeth Schwarzkopf's master-classes at the Wigmore Hall. Since then she has appeared in all the major London concert halls and in many festivals both at home and abroad. A large part of Alison Wells's work is in the field of contemporary music, and she has sung with the London Sinfonietta, Matrix, Lontano, Music Projects/London, Composers' Ensemble, Psappha, Gemini, Ensemble Corrente, Apartment House, the french ensemble 2e2m, the Schoenberg Ensemble and ASKO in Amsterdam, and Champ d’Action in Antwerp. She broadcast regularly for Radio 3 as soloist and as a recitalist with her late husband Martyn Parry. In addition to her performing activities, Alison Wells is a professor at Trinity College of Music and teaches singing to choral exhibitioners in Cambridge. She was Visiting Contemporary Artist at the Royal Northern College of Music 2003–4.
August 2004
