Gabriella Liandu

is a Zambian-Scottish singer and creative, passionate about versatility and malleability of the voice. Being raised in the Middle East, her vibrant cultural upbringing and eclectic background is reflected through her artistry and style as a writer and performer. She enjoys exploring the art of storytelling through her own words and music.

The Mezzo-Soprano takes her roots in performing within the Opera world. She completed her Vocal and Operatic studies, graduating with First Class Honours in Music, followed by a Masters (with Distinction) in Jazz, from the Royal Birmingham Conservatoire, winning the B:Music Jazz Prize and the award of Leverhulme Arts Scholar. Her diverse experience spans a wide range of genres across the music industry, which can be seen throughout her work.

In summer 2023, Gabriella made her Mostly Jazz Festival debut, and this summer, she returned to Cheltenham Jazz Festival 2024 for her own sold out show. The artist first made her Jazz debut at Cheltenham Jazz Festival in 2021, after selling out Eastside Jazz Club for her self-produced crossover show Juntos A La Par. She has since formed her own ensembles, performing original works and arrangements around the country and internationally. In November 2022, she was the soloist for ‘Music of the Unseen’, a UK tour of music scored for voice and orchestra by composer Bobbie-Jane Gardner and filmmaker B+ celebrating composer-arrangers Charles Stepney and David Axelrod, and in December 2023 she took to the stage in another orchestral-vocal project, this time a concert entirely of her own original works, arranged by Jonathan Silk for University of Birmingham Jazz Orchestra.

Her wide-ranging ensemble work also includes working with choirs. In 2020 she joined Lichfield Gospel Choir as the Associate Music Director and they have since been shortlisted for a Royal Philharmonic Society Award. As well as running her own choir, she has been singing with Ex Cathedra since 2018, working as a Student Scholar, Graduate Scholar and, as of January 2023, the Young Person Representative on the choir’s board. Much of Gabriella’s recent work with the choir has involved close collaboration with composer Liz Dilnot Johnson, culminating in an Ivor Novello Award winning project and an album ‘Gentle Flame’, on both of which she is the Mezzo soloist.

Gabriella has also forged her own way in the music world off-stage, building her off-stage presence delivering workshops and singing lessons, focusing her efforts on community outreach in under-served areas through Opera-making.