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ABOUT:

Originally from the Shetland Isles, Ellen is a recent graduate of the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC), having completed an MMus in Vocal and Operatic Studies. Under the careful tutelage of Amanda Roocroft, she has been fortunate enough to represent the conservatoire on many occasions, most notably in their VoxBox recital series. She has also performed in masterclasses with Yvette Bonner and Rebecca Bottone. She is proud to have earned first place in the Birmingham Festival Choral Society Oratorio Prize, and Highly Commended in the Ashleyan Opera Prize at RBC.

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Prior to her time at RBC, Ellen enjoyed a successful career as a classroom music teacher in the preparatory school at The Glasgow Academy, one of Scotland’s leading independent schools. She earned her teaching qualification through the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wherein she studied with Margaret Izatt, ultimately graduating in 2015. She later studied with Helen Lawson. It was through RCS that she earned a place in Les Sirènes Female Chamber Choir; wherein she is proud to have helped them to their 2012 victory in the BBC Choir of the Year competition. Les Sirènes has enabled her to record two commercial albums with both the Nimbus Alliance and Albion Record labels.

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Ellen currently sings with renowned Birmingham based ensemble Ex Cathedra, having earned a place as a choral scholar. An experienced chorister, she is fortunate to have been a long-standing member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS). Through NYCoS, she has toured extensively across much of Europe and the United States, participating in concerts ranging from intimate a capella performances to large scale works with orchestras. As part of NYCoS, she has had the opportunity to work with esteemed conductors such as Christopher Bell, Sir Donald Runnicles and Sir John Eliot Gardiner. In addition to this, she has worked frequently with ensembles such as the London Symphony Orchestra, The Orchestre Révolutionnaire et Romantique and the Monteverdi Choir; as well as acclaimed artists including Carolyn Sampson, Dame Sarah Connolly and Sir Thomas Allen. In 2019, she featured as a soloist on the latest release from NYCoS on the Signum Classics record label, Cantos Sagrados.

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Also making waves in opera, Ellen’s roles include 'Aunt Norris' in Dove’s Mansfield Park, 'Mrs Grose' in Britten’s Turn of the Screw (RBC Opera Scenes) and 'Mrs Northwind' in Dove’s The Enchanted Pig (RBC Summer Opera). More recently she has recently performed the role of 'Dorothée' in Massenet’s Cendrillon, and received rave reviews for her role as 'The Witch' in Humperdinck's Hansel and Gretel.

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Alongside performing, Ellen is a passionate educator and particularly specialises in enhancing the music learning experience for primary pupils (ages 3-11). She firmly believes in enabling all learners to reach their full musical potential through active and innovative teaching techniques. Ellen has also worked extensively with choirs of varying levels, and is particularly proud to have established Quoir, Glasgow’s first fully inclusive queer choir. This led to her being asked personally by celebrated choral conductor Christopher Bell to lead a NYCoS Regional Choir in Hamilton, Scotland. Ellen feels both humbled and privileged to be studying at the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire as she continues her training on their Advanced Postgraduate Diploma programme. She is grateful to be supported through her degree with generous contributions from RBC, Help Musicians, Ex Cathedra and The Snowden Trust.

Professional Credentials:

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE (2024 - Present)

Advanced Postgraduate Diploma (APD) Vocal Studies (RBC Scholarship Award)

 

ROYAL BIRMINGHAM CONSERVATOIRE (2022 - 2024)

Master of Music (MMus) Vocal Studies (RBC Scholarship Award)

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ROYAL CONSERVATOIRE OF SCOTLAND (2011 - 2015)

Bachelor of Education (B.Ed) Music

© 2024 by Ellen Smith: The Shetland Mezzo

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