Elizabeth Donovan, Vocal

Elizabeth Donovan, Vocal

Welsh Soprano Elizabeth Donovan is a graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music. In 2002 she won the Frederic Cox Award and was the Welsh Singer of the Year. In 2003 she represented Wales at the BBC Cardiff Singer of the World. The recipient of several awards, they include: Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal Award, Richard Maidment Scholarship, Miriam Licete Award, Sybill Tutton Award, and The Countess of Munster Award. Elizabeth was a Sir Peter Moores Foundation Scholar from 2002 until she completed her studies at the National Opera Studio, London in 2008.

A former Welsh National Opera Associate Artist, Elizabeth performed Erste dame Die Zauberflöte , Echo Ariadne auf Naxos, Barbarina Le nozze di Figaro, Zerlina Don Giovanni, Berta Il Barbiere di Siviglia, Héro Béatrice & Bénédic , Marzelline Fidelio, Blumenmädchen Parsifal and Konstanze Die Entführung aus dem Serail. Other operatic roles include Pamina Die Zauberflote, Fiordiligi Cosi fan tutte, Donna Anna Don Giovanni Ortlinde Die Walkure (Longborough Festival Opera) Clorinda La Cenerentola (Scottish Opera) Norina Don Pasquale, La Contessa Le Nozze di Figaro (Diva Opera), Konstanze The Seraglio (English Touring Opera). In recent years she has covered the title role of Jenůfa , in the original Czech and English, for both Scottish Opera and Opera North. Elizabeth created the role of Polly Garter and several small roles in the world premiere of Under Milk Wood: an opera , written by John Metcalf.

Concert highlights have included Oriana Amadigi (Edinburgh Festival with the Royal Northern Sinfonia); her BBC Proms debut singing Brigitta Iolanta (Welsh National Opera); Mozart Requiem (Welsh Proms, St. David’s Hall); Britten Spring Symphony (Chester Festival with the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra); Leila Les pêcheurs des perles (Chelsea Opera Group); Mendelssohn Elijah , Mozart C Minor Mass and Haydn Nelson Mass (Fishguard International Festival); Beethoven Folksong Arrangements (in Seville) and a WNO Royal Gala at Buckingham Palace.

Elizabeth has given recitals at the Aix-en-Provence Festival, broadcast live by Radio France, and at the Fishguard International Festival and National Museum of Wales, broadcast live on BBC Radio 3. Recordings include Songs of the Cotten Grass by Hilary Tann (Deux-Elles); Sine Nomine Herbert Howells (Classico) and at the London Welsh Festival of Male Voices at the Royal Albert Hall (on DVD for SAIN).
Since moving with her family from Wales to Wiltshire in 2017, she is a vocal tutor at Wells Cathedral School, Sherborne Girls, St. Marys School Calne, Dauntsey’s School Devizes and King Edwards School Bath having previously taught at Rugby School.