Huw Llywelyn is from Bethel, Gwynedd. In June 2007 he graduated with distinction from the Benjamin Britten International Opera School at the Royal College of Music, where he was a scholar supported by the Yvonne Wells Award. He had previously gained a BMus Hons degree and Postgraduate Diploma in Vocal Studies (Distinction) at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Drama. Huw currently studies with Russell Smythe.
During his studies, Huw won many prestigious awards and scholarships including the Wingate Foundation, MBF Music Education Award, Ryan Davies Memorial Trust Award, Sir Geraint Evans Scholarship, Mabel Linwood Christopher Scholarship, and the James Pantyfedwen Undeb Cymru Fydd Scholarship. He was the recipient of the 2006/7 Susan Chilcott Award and is a Royal Philharmonic Society Young Artist. He has also enjoyed great success in competitions: In June 2007 he was a finalist in the Stuart Burrows International Voice Competition and the 2005 MOCSA competition. He won a string of competitions at the 2005 Eryri a’r Cyffiniau National Eisteddfod, including the Opera Solo, the Art Song, and Welsh solo categories, the Rowland Jones Scholarship and the Osborne Roberts Scholarship (The Blue Ribbon Award).
Huw performs regularly at concerts and recitals throughout the UK and Ireland. Highlights include performing at the London Welsh Festival of Male Voice Choirs at the Royal Albert Hall, London. He is also at home on the operatic stage, having performed many roles including Ramiro – L’heure Espagnole – directed by Jean Claude Ouvray, Nerone - L’incoronazione di Poppea, directed by Paul Curran, both for the BBIOS, as well as Nemorino – L’elisir D’amore for Opera South, and is a past member of the chorus of the Welsh National Opera. During the summer of 2007 he sang in the chorus of Glyndebourne Festival Opera, where he also performed the role of False Witness in a fully staged version of St Matthew Passion directed by Katie Mitchell, and understudied Hirt in Wagner’s Tristan und Isolde. In Autumn 2007 he understudied the title role in Albert Herring for Glyndebourne Touring Opera, and will do so again in the 2008 Glyndebourne Festival.