A young Adelaide singer is preparing to take one of the biggest stages of his life, with 19-year-old tenor Leo French has been accepted into the prestigious Royal Academy of Music just months after finishing Year 12.
Leo will head to London later this year to begin studying at one of the world’s leading conservatoires, the Royal Academy of Music, whose alumni include Sir Simon Rattle, Jacob Collier, Elton John and Annie Lennox. But before he boards the plane, Leo is asking Adelaide audiences to join him for a special fundraising recital at St Peter’s Cathedral on May 28th, helping support the costs of his first year overseas.
For Leo, the acceptance was the culmination of years of dedication to both music and study. “Honestly, I felt euphoric,” he shared. “Only the week before I’d received the Year 12 academic results I’d been hoping for from a young age. I was then ecstatic to receive the offer to study at the Academy, the very same place that some of the musicians I’ve admired most had honed their craft.”
While many young classical musicians begin training from early childhood, Leo’s path into singing came a little later. He first picked up piano at age 12 before moving into cello, eventually discovering classical voice in late 2023 after appearing in a school production of Mamma Mia! as Harry Bright.
“I never imagined when I booked that first lesson that it would become the centre of my life. But I can distinctly remember walking out after the lesson thinking this is what I want to do. Whether that was attainable, of course, was another question entirely,” he said.
Since that moment, his rise has been quick. Leo now performs with the National Youth Choir of Australia and sings as part of the choir at St Peter’s Cathedral, including performances alongside the Adelaide Symphony Orchestra and Adelaide Baroque. This year he will also join the chorus for State Opera South Australia’s upcoming production of Norma.
“Performing in the company of orchestras of the calibre of the ASO and the Adelaide Baroque elevates your own work almost by osmosis! You’re learning constantly just by listening and observing,” he said.
The upcoming recital will transport audiences on a journey through centuries of classical music, featuring multilingual repertoire including Baroque London and Rome through to French cabaret and contemporary American art song. Accompanied by pianist Andrew Georg, Leo says the performance has been carefully designed to both move and surprise audiences. The recital will also showcase one of Adelaide’s most stunning performance spaces, with the acoustics of St Peter’s Cathedral adding another layer to the evening.
Looking forward, Leo hopes to build an international career across opera, concert and sacred music while maintaining strong ties to Australia and Adelaide’s arts community.
“My dream is to build an international career across opera, concert and sacred music, while maintaining strong ties to Australia,” he said. “I would like to contribute to Australian musical life throughout my career – through performing here regularly and, eventually, through mentoring the next generation of singers travelling the same path.”
Recital at St Peter’s Cathedral
When: May 28th
Where: St Peter’s Cathedral, North Adelaide
Price: $40
For more information, click here.
