Mezzo-soprano Esme Bronwen-Smith began her vocal studies at the junior department of Guildhall School of Music and Drama before completing her undergraduate degree at Royal Holloway University of London. 

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She currently holds the Leverhulme Scholarship at the Royal College of Music where she is studying for her Masters degree in performance. In addition to this, her studies are generously supported by the Drake Calleja trust for 2019/20.

 

Esme’s true passion is most certainly opera, having performed in a variety of productions including the title role in Bizet’s Carmen (Barefoot Opera), Cleopatra in Handel’s Giulio Cesare (Maldon Summer Festival) and a production of Nino Rota’s I due Timidi in Perugia, Italy in which she sang the role of Lucia (Hand Made Opera). This summer she played Hänsel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel (The Opera Experience) and also performed at Longborough Opera Festival covering the role of Smeton in Donitzetti's Anna Bolena.

 

Whilst studying for her bachelors degree in Music at Royal Holloway University of London she performed as a soloist in orchestral works such as ‘Sehr behaglich’ in Mahler’s Symphony No.4 and Carmina Burana by Carl Orff, both with Royal Holloway Symphony Orchestra.  

Although there is indeed a special thrill performing with a large orchestra, Esme loves the intimacy of art song, especially in recital. She has performed recitals at St Matthew’s Bayswater, Christchurch Essex and most recently a recital at Ongar Music Club as part of her success in winning second place in Essex Young Musician of the Year 2018.  

 

Her love of theatre and film has also featured in her singing career thus far; she worked closely with Danny Boyle on a variety of projects, including Frankenstein at the National Theatre (2010), Trance (2013), Trainspotting 2 (2017) and most recently an album collaboration with Underworld and Iggy Pop (Teatime Dub Encounters, 2018) in which The Guardian reviewed her voice as ‘Sublime'.