Hailing from the most northerly tip of the UK, Ellen Smith – ‘The Shetland Mezzo’ – is the first Islander in her generation to forge an Operatic career. Proud of her island roots she is passionate in sharing her unique Shaetlan language 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 ‘The Sorceress’ in Purcell’s ‘Dido and Aeneas’, ‘Mrs Herring’ in Britten’s ‘Albert Herring’, ‘Die Hexe’ in Humperdinck’s ‘Hänsel und Gretel’, ‘Dorothée’ in Massenet’s ‘Cendrillon’ and ‘Mrs Northwind’ in Dove’s ‘The Enchanted Pig’ (Royal Birmingham Conservatoire Opera). A celebrated recitalist, Ellen is often praised for her ability to deliver ‘a rich diversity of stories and characters’ on stage. Together with her duo partner, Elizabeth Haughan, they secured second in the Ambache Prize for the performance of music by woman composers (the first time more than one place has been awarded in this competition); and were crowned winners of the Leamington Music Prize. Ellen feels privileged to have undertaken her Masters at Royal Birmingham Conservatoire (RBC) and is continuing her studies with Amanda Roocroft and Christopher Turner on the conservatoire’s Advanced Postgraduate Diploma programme.