Susanna MacRae graduated from the Royal College of Music, London, where she studied with Jeffrey Stewart (Vocal Studies) and Nigel Clayton (Piano). She enjoys a busy performance schedule across the U.K. and Europe. 

Recent highlights include the launch of her curated song recital 'Words of Women' with pianist Claire Habbershaw at the Jersey Festival of Words. This recital will tour multiple festivals in the U.K. in 2024/5. In 2023 she debuted Dorinda in Liberata Collective’s sold-out run of Handel’s Orlando at Buxton International Festival and Lichfield Festival in collaboration with Ensemble Hesperi and Adrian Butterfield. Susanna appeared on BBC Radio 3 to introduce the show, and the production received rave reviews, including 4 stars from The Stage; “MacRae brings Dorinda alive, her voice...matching Handel’s notes with perfect poise”. Susanna revived the role of Dorinda at Beaumaris Festival & Stour Early Music Festival last year. 

Last season she created the role of German Child in Noah Max’s critically acclaimed debut opera, A Child in Striped Pyjamas. For this role she appeared on BBC Radio 4’s Today Programme and received many review mentions including; “Finely sung” (The Telegraph),  “Stratospheric notation…admirably executed” (Evening Standard) and “MacRae’s coloratura was beautifully handled” (Opera Magazine). In February 2023 she also sang Anne (Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress) for Aylesbury Opera. Highlights from last season include a summer at Longborough Festival Opera.

Susanna is the Managing Director of Liberata Collective CIC, a Community Interest Company serving Cultural Education and the Performing Arts. Baroque Gesture is central to their productions and their current production of Handel’s Orlando tours several major U.K. festivals over the 2023/24 season, supported by Arts Council England, The Maria Bjӧrnson Memorial Fund, The Fidelio Trust and The Golsoncott Foundation.

Susanna enjoys regularly appearing as a soprano soloist for numerous choral societies across England, highlights include singing for conductors Jonathan Willcocks (Guildford Choral), Brian Kay (Burford Singers) & Andrew Parnell (Ely Choral Society).

Initially trained as a pianist, Susanna made her concerto debut playing Beethoven's Third Piano Concerto with Guernsey Sinfonietta in August 2013.