Elizabeth Watts
Elizabeth (or Lizzie as we always knew her) was born in Hethersett in 1979 and is today regarded as one of the best opera singers in the country (and even the world).
She attended Norwich Girls High School and was an active member of Hethersett Methodist Church growing up. She took part in a number of folk based Christian groups at the church and also went to the church youth club. She was also a chorister at Norwich Cathedral.
After leaving school she studied archaeology at Sheffield University and graduated with first class honours. She then had a complete change of direction, studying music at the Royal College of Music with Lillian Watson. She graduated in 2005 with distinction and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Rose Bowl, awarded annually for outstanding achievement.
From 2005 to 2007, she was a member of the Young Singers’ Programme at English National Opera. In the 2010/11 season she played the part of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte for the Welsh National Opera and Marzelline in Beethoven's Fidelio for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
In 2006, she won the Kathleen Ferrier Award and then represented England at the 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, reaching the final and winning the prestigious Rosenblatt Song Prize Competition. She was chosen as a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist from 2007-2009. In 2011 she won a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.
Elizabeth has sung throughout the world including the United States where she sang in Boston with the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston in 2006 and also in San Francisco. She made her debut at Santa Fe Opera in July 2008. She has also sung Mozart's Requiem with the Boston Handel and Haydn Society.
Elizabeth has recorded a number of CDs including discs of Schubert Lieder and Bach Arias, both of which were chosen as Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice. She has also released recordings of Thomas Arne’s Artaxerxes, Handel’s Messiah with the Huddersfield Choral Society and Brahm's Requiem with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In January 2011, she was appointed as an Artist in Residence at London's Southbank Centre for the 2011-12 season.
In 2016 she premiered the role of The Countess in Elena Langer's opera Figaro Gets a Divorce, at the Welsh National Opera.
As well as singing all over the world Liz has also found time to get married and have twins.
She attended Norwich Girls High School and was an active member of Hethersett Methodist Church growing up. She took part in a number of folk based Christian groups at the church and also went to the church youth club. She was also a chorister at Norwich Cathedral.
After leaving school she studied archaeology at Sheffield University and graduated with first class honours. She then had a complete change of direction, studying music at the Royal College of Music with Lillian Watson. She graduated in 2005 with distinction and the Queen Elizabeth the Queen Mother Rose Bowl, awarded annually for outstanding achievement.
From 2005 to 2007, she was a member of the Young Singers’ Programme at English National Opera. In the 2010/11 season she played the part of Pamina in Die Zauberflöte for the Welsh National Opera and Marzelline in Beethoven's Fidelio for the Royal Opera House, Covent Garden.
In 2006, she won the Kathleen Ferrier Award and then represented England at the 2007 Cardiff Singer of the World Competition, reaching the final and winning the prestigious Rosenblatt Song Prize Competition. She was chosen as a BBC Radio 3 New Generation Artist from 2007-2009. In 2011 she won a Borletti-Buitoni Trust Award.
Elizabeth has sung throughout the world including the United States where she sang in Boston with the Handel and Haydn Society of Boston in 2006 and also in San Francisco. She made her debut at Santa Fe Opera in July 2008. She has also sung Mozart's Requiem with the Boston Handel and Haydn Society.
Elizabeth has recorded a number of CDs including discs of Schubert Lieder and Bach Arias, both of which were chosen as Gramophone Magazine Editor’s Choice. She has also released recordings of Thomas Arne’s Artaxerxes, Handel’s Messiah with the Huddersfield Choral Society and Brahm's Requiem with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. In January 2011, she was appointed as an Artist in Residence at London's Southbank Centre for the 2011-12 season.
In 2016 she premiered the role of The Countess in Elena Langer's opera Figaro Gets a Divorce, at the Welsh National Opera.
As well as singing all over the world Liz has also found time to get married and have twins.