Emma read music at Edinburgh University, where she studied singing with Eric von Ibler. She has since studied in London with Jessica Cash and Fiona Dobie, and in 2007 completed a postgraduate concert singing course at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, studying with Helen Lawson. She is currently studying with Pat McMahon.
Oratorio performances include Bach St John Passion with the Scottish Chamber Choir, Tochter Zion in the rarely performed Brockes Passion by Handel with Edinburgh Symphony Baroque, Poulenc Gloria with Thames Voyces, Brahms Requiem with Bishops Stortford Choral Society, Angel in Jeptha for Stour Music, Handel Messiah with Folkestone Choral Society and Mozart Mass in C Minor and Haydn Nelson Mass for the Whitstable Choral Society.
Emma continues to sing in many solo recitals, and her repertoire encompasses works by many of the most important composers of German, French, English and American song. Recent programmes have included religious Lieder by Schubert and Wolf, Samuel Barber’s Hermit Songs, and a programme based around Scottish composers and poets. She is a regular recitalist for Festivals and concert series around the UK including Canterbury Cathedral, St Giles at Six at St Giles Cathedral Edinburgh, the Brechin Arts Festival, the inaugural Balerno Music Festival and Summer Music at the Cathedral of the Isles. She is also an artist for Yehudi Menuhin's Live Music Now and for Music in Hospitals Scotland.
A a member of the recently formed Trio Burnsteeg, Emma is enjoying exploring repertoire for flute, soprano and piano and the trio is already in demand for their varied and interesting concerts. Recent concerts include an all American programme for the Beith Arts Guild.
An experienced ensemble member, Emma sings with early music groups Cappella Nova, Canty and Ludus Baroque. She has also sung regularly with Edinburgh University Chamber Choir, Edinburgh Symphony Baroque, Edinburgh Camerata and the Laudate Choir. Other work also includes the Royal Hospital, Chelsea, the Serlo Consort, the Symphony Choir of Johannesburg and the Cathedral Singers, Sydney. She has also performed Spem in Alium with the Sixteen in Canterbury Cathedral.
A keen participant in masterclasses, Emma has worked with Ann Murray and Malcolm Martineau at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama, Richard Jackson and Patricia McMahon in Edinburgh, Rudolf Jansen and Julius Drake at the Royal Academy of Music, Lorna Anderson, James Lockhart, Jane Manning, Malcolm Martineau, Linda Ormiston and Simon Over at Oxenfoord International Summer School, and Robin Bowman as part of the Oxford Lieder Festival.