Elin Manahan Thomas was born and bred in Swansea, and studied Anglo-Saxon, Norse and Celtic at Clare 1995-1998, while also singing, travelling and recording with the chapel choir. She undertook a postgraduate course at the Royal College of Music before forging a unique career in the world of music.
Best known for her interpretation of baroque repertoire - most famously at the London Paralympics 2012, and the wedding of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle in 2018 - she is equally renowned for her performances of contemporary music and world premieres, ranging from John Rutter and John Tavener to Karl Jenkins. She has released six solo discs, with Universal, Sain and Coro records, and featured on numerous more with world-famous choirs such as The Sixteen, The Monteverdi Choir and Polyphony.
Alongside her singing, Elin is recognised as a presenter and broadcaster, appearing on BBC Four, BBC Two and hosting a regular series on BBC Radio 3. Her passion for education led her to form a children’s choir in 2016, as well as participating in masterclasses and workshops for organisations such as The Benedetti Foundation and Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.
It is this passion - for leading and inspiring the next generation - that prompted Elin, in 2020, to embark upon a career in teaching, and she now brings the full force of her enthusiasm to a new role as a primary class teacher.