BIOGRAPHY

Kelsey Thomas is a British Soprano studying at the Royal Northern College of Music and is the current award holder of the Sybil Tutton Opera Award from Help Musicians UK and The Riga Heesom Scholarship Award from the RNCM.

Originally from Liverpool, Kelsey has been described as an 'exciting early-career singer', praised for her "beautiful storytelling", "outstanding onstage energy" and "excellent supple and elastic tone".

On the concert stage, Kelsey is an experienced song recitalist and has performed at numerous UK venues including Buxton Pavilion Art’s Centre, Grimsby Town Hall, Crosby Hall and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic, where she made her professional debut last year, opening the Philharmonics 2025/26 lunchtime concert series. Kelsey's repertoire includes songs by Rossini, Strauss, Wolf and Rachmaninoff, as well as the masters of French Mélodies.

As an oratorio and chamber soloist, Kelsey has performed as the soprano soloist in Handel’s Messiah with Liverpool Mozart Orchestra and the joint Liverpool Cathedral choirs, as well as Villa-Lobos’s Portuguese chamber work, 'Bachianas Brasileiras' with cellists from Merseyside Youth Orchestra.

Recent operatic highlights include, Berenice in Rossini's 'L'occasione fa il ladro' (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 as part of the RNCM Opera Chorus in Mozart’s Le Nozze di Figaro (2022), and Rimsky-Korsakov’s Snegurochka (2023).

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.

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.)