Elin Rees is from Penarth, just outside Cardiff. She grew up in a musical family, performing as a piano and harp soloist and accompanist from a very young age, and began having organ lessons at Llandaff Cathedral at the age of 12. At 16 she won a scholarship to the Purcell School of Music, where she studied piano performance and organ.

Elin has attended the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester since 2006, during which time she has become a Licentiate of the Royal Schools of Music with a BMus (Hons) in Piano Performance.

Elin was a finalist in the RNCM Duo competition in 2009 and 2010 and the Prize Competition in 2010. She was soloist in a performance of Mendelssohn’s First Piano Concerto with the Manchester Beethoven Orchestra and has also performed in a number of Masterclasses. To end her time at the RNCM she played in the college’s Noise of Many Waters project at the Victoria Baths in Manchester, and in the Symphony Orchestra Concert performance of Gershwin’s Catfish Row at the Bridgewater Hall. She is currently awaiting the results of a one year intensive Masters in Performance, supported by an entrance award from the College and a bursary from the Leverhulme Trade Charities Trust.

Whilst in Manchester, Elin had the great experience of working with Ronald Frost as Pilling Organ Scholar for four years at St. Ann’s Church and regularly performed at the Tuesday lunchtime concerts. She has recently been appointed Organist and Associate Director of Music at Bury Parish Church, working with the new Director Marc Hall.