Ailish Tynan was born in Mullingar, Ireland, and studied at Trinity College and Royal Irish Academy of Music in Dublin and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, London. In 2003 Ailish represented Ireland in the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, winning the BBC Singer of the World Rosenblatt Recital Prize. Other awards include Maggie Teyte Competition/Miriam Licette Award and RTE Millennium Singer of the Future.

Whilst a member of the former Vilar Young Artist Programme at the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden, Ailish performed Papagena in Die Zauberflöte, First Niece in Peter Grimes, Xenia in Boris Godunov and Second Wood Nymph in Rusalka. Roles elsewhere include Valencienne in The Merry Widow and Susanna in Le nozze di Figaro for Welsh National Opera, Euridice in Orfeo ed Euridice and Pamina in Die Zauberflöte for Opera Ireland, Flora in The Knot Garden with the BBC Symphony Orchestra conducted by Sir Andrew Davis, Aenchen in Der Freischütz at the Edinburgh International Festival conducted by Sir Charles Mackerras and Marzelline in Fidelio with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland in Dublin.

Highlights on the concert platform include a televised programme of music by Mozart with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra conducted by Sir Roger Norrington at the 2006 BBC Proms, Carmina Burana with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra conducted by Daniel Gatti, Barber Knoxville Summer of 1915 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mahler Symphony No 4 with the Hallé Orchestra conducted by Martyn Brabbins at the Cheltenham Music Festival, Canteloube Songs of the Auvergne with the Ulster Orchestra and Ravel’s Scheherazade with the BBC Philharmonic Orchestra.

As a recitalist, Ailish has collaborated with distinguished accompanists such as Malcolm Martineau, Graham Johnston, Julius Drake, Iain Burnside and Barry Douglas, giving recitals at Edinburgh International Festival, City of London Festival, Cheltenham Music Festival, West Cork Music Festival, Wigmore Hall and St John’s Smith Square, London.

As a former BBC New Generation Artist, Ailish is a regular contributor on BBC Radio 3. Her recording of Songs of Judith Weir was released recently on Signum Classics label. Future releases include Songs of Herbert Hughes on Signum Classics and Schubert Shepherd on the Rock on the Wigmore Hall Live label.

This season Ailish makes her US debut as Zerlina in Don Giovanni for the Seattle Opera, her European debut as Sophie in Der Rosenkavalier for the Royal Swedish Opera and returns to the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden to perform Marzelline in Fidelio. On the concert platform Ailish joins the Nash Ensemble on a concert tour of Sweden and gives recitals in Tokyo, Barcelona, and West Coast of USA. Future plans include Héro Béatrice et Bénédict for Houston Grand Opera.