William Revels was born in Colchester, Essex, and while studying History of Art at The University of London he trained as a singer with soprano Margaret White, and later with bass-baritone Norman Bailey. During the 1990s he performed principal baritone roles with First Act Opera, Harrow Opera Workshop, University of London Opera Group, and Bradford Opera, as well as singing with The Michael Nyman Band Choir, The Greenpeace Singers, Westfield College Choir, The Holborn Festival Chorus, and The Chelsea Singers. Solo concert appearances included recitals of Vaughan Williams and Finzi songs at the Edinburgh Fringe Festivals 1994-1996 and premieres of song cycles by David Arditti and William Hutchinson, which he also recorded.
In 1997 illness forced him to move from London to the South Coast, and to abandon singing. In 2000 he was able to resume, and has since performed principal baritone roles in thirteen productions for Littlehampton Players Operatic Society, as well as leading roles for many local opera companies including Pulborough and District G&S Society, Southwick Opera and Worthing Light Opera Company.
Recent performances include the roles of Montano (Otello), Mountararat (Iolanthe), and the title role in Rigoletto for Southwick Opera, the baritone solo in Nielsen's Third Symphony for Worthing Philharmonic Orchestra, and the roles of The Sacristan and Sciarrone (Tosca) for Music Theatre 2000.
At the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival at Buxton he played Mr Goldbury (Utopia Limited) in 2003, Samuel (Pirates of Penzance) in 2004, Counsel for the Plaintiff (Trial by Jury) in 2005, Sir Roderic Murgatroyd (Ruddygore) in 2006 and Dr Daly (The Sorcerer) in 2007, and at the 2005 Waterford International Festival of Light Opera he sang Second Yeoman in The Nomads production of Yeomen of the Guard.
Plans for 2008 include Dancairo (Carmen) for Southwick Opera in May, Luiz (The Gondoliers) for Peak Opera as part of the International Gilbert and Sullivan Festival at Buxton in August, and Shaunard (La Boheme) for Music Theatre 2000 in October.
