Ellen McNeill

Scottish mezzo-soprano Ellen McNeill completed a Bachelor of Music at the University of Glasgow, studying singing with Wilma MacDougall and then completed a Master of Music Vocal Performance course at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland in 2020, under the tutelage of Kathleen McKellar Ferguson.

During her training,  Ellen has enjoyed masterclasses with Patricia McMahon, Linda Ormiston, Dorian Bundy, Jane Irwin, Mhairi Lawson, Rachel Nicholls and Tim Dean at Glasgow University, Oxenfoord Summer School and RCS.

Ellen joined the National Youth Choir of Scotland in 2016 and sang in 'The Armed Man' at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and, as a member of Scottish Opera Connect Chorus (2015-2017), Ellen sang in The Cabinet of Doctor Caligari and Der Jasager. In 2017, as a soloist, Ellen sang First Witch in Dido and Aeneas with Scottish Opera Connect, a Gossip in Noyes Fludde for Music Co-Operative Scotland and, in 2018, Cupid in Venus and Adonis for Glasgow University Opera Society. Most recently, in March 2019, Ellen sang the roles of Susanna (Marriage of Figaro), Elisetta (Il Matrimonio Segreto) and Second Friend (The Ballad of Baby Doe) in the RCS Opera Scenes Workshop. As a member of RCS Voices, Ellen sang in Debussy 'Nocturnes' in 2018 with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in the City Halls in Glasgow, the Usher Hall in Edinburgh and Perth Concert Hall. 

Ellen gives regular recitals with her horn playing brother Peter McNeill, performing at St Mary’s Cathedral Edinburgh in August 2019 as part of the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and as part of a recital series at The University of Aberdeen in September 2019. 

In 2022, Ellen has performed as part of the chorus in the Glasgow Bach Cantata Project on September 25th and November 13th. And this year in 2023, Ellen performed a selection of Scottish songs and Italian arias as guest soloist for the Edinburgh Telephone Choir concert in the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.