British Soprano Katie Bird began her studies at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama (now Royal Conservatoire of Scotland) and the Royal Academy of Music under the tutelage of Patricia MacMahon and Jane Irwin. Her place at the National Opera Studio was generously supported by English National Opera, The Boltini Trust, the John S Cohen Foundation and the Winship Foundation.

Katie has sung various roles for Opera North including; Kate Pinkerton (covering Cio Cio San) Madama Butterfly 2018, Nedda Pagliacci 2017 and Suor Osmina (covering the title role) Suor Angelica 2016. For Northern Ireland Opera, Katie sang The Governess in Oliver Mears’ 2016 revival of The Turn of the Screw and Masha and Chloe (covering Liza) in David Alden’s new production of The Queen of Spades for English National Opera:

“The British singers in minor roles were excellent, with particularly notable contributions from Katie Bird (Mascha)”

June 2015, The Telegraph, Rupert Christiansen

Prior to 2016, other roles have included Mimi La bohème (Nevill Holt Opera); Cio Cio San cover Madam Butterfly, Mimi La bohème, Tatyana cover Eugene Onegin and Antigone cover in the world premiere of Thebans (English National Opera); 1st Witch Macbeth reduction (Scottish Opera); Mimi La bohème (Longborough Festival Opera); Governess The Turn of the Screw and Nedda Pagliacci (Opera Up Close); Countess Almaviva Le nozze di Figaro (Armonico Consort). Katie also sang Tannhäuser, Parsifal, Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg in the 2007 Bayreuth Festival Chorus:

“Katie Bird is a lovely, clear-voiced Mimi, always it seems with plenty in reserve at the top, where Puccini often piles on the orchestral volume.”

July 2013, The Arts Desk, Stephen Walsh on Longborough Festival Opera’s La bohème

Equally at home on the concert platform, Katie is a 2012 Samling Foundation Scholar and 2006 recipient of the Norma Greig Prize for French song. Her recent oratorio and concert engagements include; Verdi Requiem (Highgate Choral Society and Lakeland Opera); Brahms Requiem (Scottish Opera Orchestra); Dvorak Te Deum; Mozart Coronation Mass; Beethoven Symphony No. 9; Poulenc Gloria; Vaughan Williams Serenade to Music; Rossini Petite Messe Solennelle; Stravinsky Mass and Bartok Three Village Scenes (all with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, conducted by Martyn Brabbins and broadcast on BBC Radio 3). In 2017 Katie was the soloist for the annual open-air concert with the Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra at Leeds Castle.

Future engagements include; Cio Cio San Madama Butterfly (West Green House Opera, July 2018), Leeds Castle Classical Concert soloist (Royal Philharmonic Concert Orchestra, July 2018) and Hanna Glawari The Merry Widow (Opera North, October & November 2018).