Janet Shell

Mezzo-soprano

"The choir thought your voice was wonderful, your breath control amazing, and your presence like a ray of sunshine. We hope that we might hear you in Scunthorpe again before too long."
Scunthorpe and District Choral Society (April 2008)

"As for the mezzo soloist, Janet Shell. I shall long remember her delivery of "Thou hast forestalled the agony, and so for thee bitterness of death is passed."
Oxford Mail 2007

"Janet Shell sang with great feeling and golden tone. Her account of O rest in the Lord was ravishing..."
MENDELSSOHN Elijah August 2004 - Leicester Mercury

"The reaction from the audience was wonderful - they really loved you. For myself, it was simply a pleasure."
Philip Hesketh - conductor - RAVEL Sheherezade (June 2004)

Janet Shell has been described as one of the leading mezzo sopranos of her generation. As a singer, she has won several competitions both here and abroad; she was the first person to sing live on Classic FM at its inception, subsequently returning to sing several more times. She sang the first female duet programme on “Friday Night is Music Night” for the BBC; sings on the title sequence in the British comedy film “Caught in the Act” and sang at the party following the christening of Geri Halliwell’s baby for the Spice Girls.

While John Major was Prime Minister she was invited to sing for him and top business directors in Tokyo and then at Downing Street. Over the course of her varied career she has sung for three British Prime Ministers - Margaret Thatcher and the late Edward Heath being the other two. She has also sung for several members of the Royal Family and at numerous gala occasions with celebrated guests.

In opera, she has worked with WNO, ENO, Opera North and more recently for the Royal Opera, Covent Garden. Major concert venues include Royal Albert Hall, Liverpool Philharmonic Hall, Purcell Room, Birmingham Symphony Hall and Janet has sung with many of the countries leading orchestras such as RPO and Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra.

Following a teaching career where she was a Head of Music, she retrained at Guildhall School of Music and Drama and now combines a busy schedule of performing and vocal consultancy. Her clients have included Errol Brown of Hot Chocolate and she has just recorded in collaboration with the young hip hop artist Bobby Whiskers. In February of this year she was invited to give a Master Class at Stetson University in Florida.

Her infectious enthusiasm and humour are her trademarks and her forthcoming recital, entitled “Janet and John come of age” marking 21 years in the business is much anticipated.