Hailing from the most northerly tip of the UK, Ellen Smith – ‘The Shetland Mezzo’ – is the first Islander in her generation to forge a career in Opera. Proud of her island roots, she is particularly passionate in sharing her unique Shetland Dialect and specialises in performing the lesser-known folk songs of her remote home.

 

Ellen has a growing list of Operatic roles to her name, with recent credits including ‘Mrs Grose’ in Britten’s Turn of the Screw, ‘Aunt Norris’ in Dove’s Mansfield Park, ‘La Ciesca’ in Puccini’s Gianni Schicchi, ‘Sélysette’ in Dukas’ Ariane et Barbe-Bleue, ‘Miss Forcible’ in Turnage’s Coraline (RBC Opera Scenes), ‘Mrs Northwind’ in Dove’s The Enchanted Pig, ‘Dorothée’ in Massenet’s Cendrillon, ‘Die Hexe’ in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, ‘Mrs Herring’ in Britten’s Albert Herring’ (RBC Opera) and ‘Mrs Bentson’ in Delibes Lakmé, and ‘Second Woman’ in Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte (Oxenfoord International Summer School Opera Scenes).

 

Ellen has been fortunate enough to represent the conservatoire on many occasions, most notably in their VoxBox recital series, and has also performed in masterclasses with Yvette Bonner and Rebecca Bottone. In addition along with her accompanist Elizabeth Haughan, they are delighted to have been crowned WINNER of the Leamington Music prize, as well as securing second place (which had never previously been awarded) in the Ambache Prize for the performance of music by women composers.

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Oratorio is another passion of Ellen’s, and she was delighted to earn first place in the Birmingham Festival Choral Society’s Oratorio Prize. She is quickly becoming in demand as a soloist with choral societies across much of the UK.

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An avid chorister, Ellen was a long-standing member of the National Youth Choir of Scotland (NYCoS) with whom she has toured extensively across much of Europe and the United States, both as a soloist and as part of the ensemble. She has performed in venues such as London’s Albert Hall and New York City’s Carnegie Hall and has worked frequently with conductors such as Sir Donald Runnicles, Sir John Elliot Gardiner and Edward Gardiner. In addition, she is particularly proud to have sung with Les Sirenès Female Chamber Choir when they clinched their victory at the 2012 BBC Choir of The Year competition.

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Prior to pursuing Opera, Ellen enjoyed a successful teaching career at the prestigious Glasgow Academy, one of Scotland’s leading independent schools. She earned her teaching degree through the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland, wherein she studied with Margaret Izatt, ultimately graduating in 2015. She later studied with Helen Lawson.

 

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.

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Ellen feels both humbled and privileged to have recently undertaken her Masters at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire and is thankful to have been supported through her degree with generous contributions from RBC, Help Musicians, Ex Cathedra and The Snowden Trust. She is delighted to be continuing her studies with Amanda Roocroft and Christopher Turner-Pearce on the conservatoire’s Advanced Postgraduate Diploma programme.