About

---

Praised for his commanding presence and captivating storytelling, Irish tenor Graham Cooper brings text to life with soaring lyrical lines. Based in Berlin, he seeks to bring a fresh queer perspective to every performance, whether performing Mozart, Bach, and Saint-Saëns as a concert soloist, exploring the intimacy of art song, or creating a new role in contemporary opera. 

As a concert soloist Graham performs widely across Europe and the UK. 2025 highlights include touring Mozart’s Requiem with Argovia Philharmonic across Switzerland, his debut at Concertgebouw Bruges performing Mozart’s KV468 and KV471 with Terra Nova Collective and Christoph Prégardien. His oratorio repertoire includes Bach’s Weihnachtsoratorium and Messe in h-Moll, Mozart’s Requiem and Mass in C, Haydn’s Nelson Mass, Mendelssohn’s Psalm 42, and Tippett’s A Child of Our Time. He has appeared as a soloist at venues including the Berlin Philharmonie Kammermusiksaal and Concertgebouw Brugge.

In summer 2025 he was accepted to ICAV, the Young Artist Scheme in Montreal, where he appeared in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (1st Armed Man, 2nd Priest, Cover Tamino), sang “Ich Baue Ganz” (Entführung Aus Dem Serail, Mozart) in concert, and performed the roles of Alfredo (Brindisi, Verdi) and Sam (Lonely House, Weill) in their opera gala. Other operatic roles include Ferrando (Così fan tutte), Don Basilio and Don Curzio (Le nozze di Figaro). Alongside the core Classical repertoire, Graham has developed a strong presence in contemporary music theatre and new opera. He collaborates regularly with the Belfast Ensemble, appearing in Abomination (DUP Tenor) and creating the role of Iris (Dublin Jack), both operas part of the company’s distinctive strand of queer-led music theatre. His performance of Jamie in The Last Five Years with his own production company weeMusicals further reflects a commitment to text-centred, dramatically intimate work.

Graham’s artistic identity is equally shaped by chamber ensemble work. He performs regularly with leading European ensembles including Collegium Vocale Gent, the Zürcher Singakademie, Vocalconsort Berlin, Chamber Choir Ireland, and the Zurich Chamber Singers, appearing at major venues including the Royal Albert Hall and the Elbphilharmonie.

A committed recitalist, Graham maintains a particular love for art song and chamber repertoire. Recent competition appearances include the semifinals of the Lyon International Competition (2025) and the finals of the Triomphe de l’Art International Competition (2022). 

Trained with Lothar Odinius and John Norris, and guided by répétiteurs Philip Mayers and Tim Ribchester, Graham has also refined his craft through masterclasses with Sir Thomas Allen, Julia Kleiter, Werner Güra, Peter Kooij, Christianne Stotijn, Jard van Nes and Arnold Bezuyen.