Emma Smellie is a mezzo-soprano embarking on a career which combines her love for both singing and educational outreach.

Since September 2022, Emma has been singing as an Alto Choral Scholar in Portsmouth Cathedral, where she is currently the only woman. Singing six services a week, Emma enjoys exploring a range of music from Plainsong to Contemporary music. She has also received many solo opportunities as part of this choir, with the most notable being Durufle’s ‘Pie Jesu’, from the Requiem. This was described as ‘powerful and deeply moving’. Prior to this, Emma was a keen ensemble singer at University of Birmingham, taking part in both chamber and symphonic choirs, working with conductors such as Simon Halsey, Bob Chilcott and Mark Chambers.

Emma is always exploring music as a form of communication. Within solo recitals, Emma is frequently creating stories and exploring themes through her programme choices. Some of her recent recitals include explorations around the themes of love and loss, outlooks on the future and enjoyment in music. It is this theme of storytelling that Emma wishes to explore in her education work. She has led and supported workshops in Portsmouth, using games to teach Religious and Early music. She is a proud Creative Learning Ambassador of the Benedetti Foundation and enjoys thinking creatively about her career and how she could encourage wider engagement in music education.