English soprano Emma Kirkby (born 1949) originally had no expectations of becoming a professional singer. As a classics student at Oxford and then a schoolteacher she sang for pleasure in choirs and small groups, always feeling most at home in Renaissance and Baroque repertoire. She joined the Taverner Choir in 1971 and in 1973 began her long association with the Consort of Musicke.
Despite very extensive recording activities, Dame Emma Kirkby still prefers live concerts and feels that such occasions always create something new from this wonderful repertoire. Together with ensembles like London Baroque and the Royal Academy Baroque Orchestra, Emma Kirkby has made numerous recordings for BIS since 1998. In 1999 she was voted Artist of the Year by Classic FM Radio listeners, and in November 2000 she received the Order of the British Empire. In 2011 receiver of the "Queens Medal for Music".