Born in Birmingham, England, Dennison began to study violin
at age 12 and eventually joined the Boyd Neal String Orchestra. His skills and
interest in music led him to audition for acceptance at the Eastman
School of Music, following his emigration to the United States. It was at
Eastman that his talent as a singer was discovered.
To help with school expenses, he joined the choir at a
church close to the school, singing bass baritone. One week when the soloist was
absent, the choirmaster asked Dennison to step in and sing Handel’s Largo.
The next morning at school, he found a note instructing him to see the head of
the Oratorio Department. The Dean had heard him sing Sunday morning and
persuaded him to change his major to voice.
Following his graduation from Eastman, Dennison continued
his voice studies at the Cincinnati Conservatory of Music.
New York City with all its opportunities and challenges
appealed to him. Once there, his launch as a professional singer was
unexpectedly swift. Like many young hopefuls, he was prepared for many rounds
of auditions, seeking his first role. He had performed in Brigadoon at
Cincinnati, and when he saw a notice for auditions at the New York City Light
Opera, he eagerly signed up.
On Friday afternoon, he sang “Almost Like Being in Love” for
the three gentlemen conducting the auditions. They said, “Very nice. Do you
have anything in Italian? In German? Come back at 5.” After the second round,
they directed him to come to the office on Monday. To his surprise, they
offered him a contract to sing in Carmen and Madama Butterfly. He
then learned he had gone to the wrong audition.
Because his father was a singer, Dennison knew and enjoyed
Gilbert & Sullivan. When the D’Oyly Carte Opera Company began a tour in the
U.S., he approached the manager to request an audition. The manager rather
frostily replied that the company never auditioned outside the United Kingdon.
Undaunted, Dennison prepared a tape and sent it to Dame Bridget D’Oyly Carte in
London.
Two or three weeks later, he received a letter asking him to
audition while the company performed at the Forest Theatre in Philadelphia.
Soon after, he received a letter and contract asking him to report for
rehearsals in London.
