Mary Nelson

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 Academy 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.

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