Mary Nelson

Born in Northern Ireland, Mary studied at The Royal Academy of Music where she was elected a
Fellow in 2019. Mary was a company principal with English National Opera where her roles 
included ‘Susanna’, ‘Pamina’, ‘Dalinda’, ‘Atalanta’, ‘Belinda’, ‘The Fairy Queen’ (including 
performances in the Gran Teatre del Liceu in Barcelona) and ‘Lucia’ in David McVicar’s production 
of The Rape of Lucretia at the Aldeburgh Festival. Other roles include ‘Carolina’ in The Secret 
Marriage, ‘Ismene’ (Mitridate) and ‘Piacere’ (Il trionfo del Tempo e de Disinganno), ‘Gilda’, 
‘Micaela’ and ‘Nedda’. She also performed Poulenc’s Gloria at The Royal Opera House.

An experienced international concert soloist, Mary has performed all of the major oratorio 
repertoire with orchestras including the Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment, The Academy of 
Ancient Music, The London Mozart Players, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra, Scottish 
Chamber Orchestra, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, English Chamber Orchestra, Dutch Radio 
Symphony Orchestra, Prague Philharmonic, RTE Symphony Orchestra and the Music of the 
Baroque (Chicago). She has collaborated with conductors such as Sir Richard Hickox, Jakub 
Hrusa, Nicholas McGegan, Thierry Fischer, Jane Glover, Paul Daniel, Harry Bicket and John 
Nelson.

In 2015, Mary became a Professor of Singing at the Royal Academy of Music and in 2025 was 
additionally appointed as a Vocal Professor at the Royal College of Music. She regularly gives 
Masterclasses and adjudicates competitions, as well as serving as a panellist and assessor at the 
major UK conservatoires.

Students have secured contracts at companies such as Glyndebourne, English National Opera, 
Royal Opera House, Stuttgart, Lyons and La Monnaie.

Faculties / departments: Vocal Studies

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