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 singing Dorinda in Liberata Collective’s sold-out production 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”. Earlier this year she premiered the role of German Child in Noah Max’s critically acclaimed 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 she also sang Anne (Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress) for Aylesbury Opera. Last season highlights included a summer at Longborough Festival Opera, First Lady for Arcadian Opera (Mozart’s Die Zauberflöte) and premiering David Braid’s “Journey Time” at The Brunel Museum (Thames Festival).

Other recent highlights include touring the role of Venus (Blow’s Venus & Adonis) across regional  opera houses in Italy for L’offerta Musicale di Venezia. For the same company she previously toured Galatea (Handel’s Acis & Galatea). Prior to the pandemic she sang Emmy (Marschner’s Der Vampyr) with Gothic Opera in their Offie Award Nominated Production, as well as performing at The Bath Festival (Handel Arias for Jane Glover’s book launch) and The Utrecht Early Music Festival, The Netherlands (Purcell Songs).

Susanna, alongside Olivia Doutney is the Co-Founder and Co-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 first production of Handel’s Orlando tours several major U.K. festivals over the 2023/24 season, supported by Arts Council England and The Fidelio Trust.

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. She is also delighted to act as jury member for London Young Musician Competition.