Kelsey Thomas
Soprano
In 2024, Kelsey graduated from her undergraduate studies at the RNCM with a First Class Honours Degree. That same year, she then received a place at the RNCM for her Master's, where she was awarded the Richard Newitt Fund, which supported the first year of her postgraduate study. During this time, Kelsey has participated in masterclasses with Joseph Middleton, Rebecca Evans, Elizabeth Lewellyn, David Owen Norris and Roger Vignoles. In autumn 2024, Kelsey was selected to join the prestigious RNCM Songsters, which are a group of accomplished singers and collaborative pianists at the conservatoire. Through this platform, Kelsey regularly performs in concerts across various UK venues, showcasing a diverse range of art song repertoire. After re-auditioning in September, Kelsey was reselected to represent the RNCM as a Songster for 2025/26.
Earlier this year, Kelsey performed as the soprano soloist at Grimsby Town Hall's Opera Gala, alongside Mezzo Soprano, Victoria Simmonds, and Bass-Baritone Henry Waddington and she is now set to appear as the soprano soloist for Handel's Messiah in March 2026, with Oldham Symphony Orchestra and will also appear as guest soprano soloist for Mendelssohn's 'Elijah' at Liverpool Cathedral in May.
(Please do not reproduce without permission. For the most up to date version to use in programs, please be in touch.)
BIOGRAPHY
Kelsey Thomas is a British Soprano studying at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester. Kelsey has been praised for her "beautiful storytelling", "outstanding onstage energy" and "excellent supple and elastic tone" and she is the 2025 award holder of the Sybil Tutton Opera Award from Help Musicians UK. Kelsey is also kindly supported by The Riga Heesom Award.
Kelsey was named a 2026 Leeds Song Young Artist, performing at this year's Leeds Song Festival and has also been appointed as an RNCM Songster for the past two consecutive years.
Recent operatic highlights include, Berenice in Rossini's 'L'occasione fa il ladro' (2026), Giannetta in Donizetti's 'L'elisir d'amore' (2026), Sandrina in Mozart’s 'La Finta Giardinera' (2025), Maria Bertram in Dove's 'Mansfield Park' (2024), Colombina in Wolf-Ferrari’s 'Le Donne Curiose' (2024), and Marina in 'I Quattro Rusteghi' (RNCM scenes).
Kelsey has also performed with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Opera Chorus in Dvořák's Rusalka under the baton of Domingo Hindoyan, alongside Soprano Sonya Yoncheva and tenor Pavel Černoch. Other Chorus engagements includes Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (2022), and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Snegurochka (2023) with the RNCM.
On the concert platform, Kelsey is an experienced recitalist having performed at Buxton Opera House, Howard Assembly Room, Crosby Hall and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, where she made her solo concert debut in September 2025, opening the Philharmonics 2025-26 lunchtime concert series. Earlier this year, Kelsey was featured as the soprano soloist in an opera gala at Grimsby Town Hall, performing alongside baritone Henry Waddington and mezzo-soprano Victoria Simmonds.
As an oratorio soloist, Kelsey has performed in major orchestral works including Handel’s Messiah with Liverpool Mozart Orchestra and Oldham Symphony Orchestra, Mendelssohn's Elijah with Liverpool Cathedral choir and Liverpool Concert Orchestra, Haydn's Nelson Mass with Gareth Malone, Pergolesi's Stabat Mater with Liverpool Metropolitan Cathedral and Villa-Lobos’s Portuguese chamber work Bachianas Brasileiras with cellists from Merseyside Youth Orchestra. In 2023, Kelsey also performed in the Chorus of Ligeti’s Requiem with RNCM Chamber Choir and Edvard Grieg Kor Ensemble at the Royal Albert Hall for the 2023 BBC Proms.
Updated June 2026. Do not reproduce without permission.
For the most up to date version to use in programs, please be in touch. CV available upon request.