Lesley Garrett CBE talks smaller shows, audience requests and why she wants more music in schools ahead of appearances in Market Drayton and Wolverhampton

And tonight and tomorrow she will share her favourite stories and songs during An Intimate Evening With…. She will appear at Festival Drayton Centre, in Market Drayton, tonight and at the Grand Theatre, Wolverhampton, tomorrow.

The classically trained soprano has won both critical acclaim and the affection of many fans and music lovers through the breadth and diversity of her work. Internationally Lesley has performed throughout Europe, the USA, Australia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, Malaysia, Taiwan and South Korea.

She is looking forward to her smaller shows this weekend. "They're usually very relaxed and intimate evenings," she says. "I'll talk about my life, about how I started from very humble beginnings and ended up where I am today. There'll be a lot of laughing, singing and chatting, with the audience asking questions and requesting songs.

"I love that each evening is different because the audience is different – people are so important to the show."

As a recording artist, Garrett has 14 solo CDs to her credit; Soprano In Red received the Gramophone Award for Best-selling Classical Artist of the Year.

As well as recordings of Handel and Gilbert and Sullivan operas, Lesley's most recent classical recordings were for Sir Charles Mackerras's Magic Flute and Cosi Fan Tutte and her most recent solo album A North Country Lass was released in April 2012.

She is glad that she's made a difference and describes music as being part of her DNA. She wishes there was more music in our schools so that others could enjoy the opportunities she has.

"It's a way in to education. What happened to school assemblies where kids would sing their hearts out? It sets you up for the day; it wakes up your mind, body and spirit.

"Music has always been great therapy. If we're happy or sad, the first thing we do is put on music; we need to sing – it allows us to connect to our emotions. People sing at weddings, at funerals, at football matches because they need to express themselves through sound so the idea it's an optional extra in school is crazy."

For those inspired by her work, her advice is simple. "Join a choir. Get close to somebody who's good at singing; you need a singing buddy. Sing along to something that moves you and find somewhere where you can sing freely, whether that's the shower, in the car, or in a field. Connect your body to the idea that you can express yourself through sound."

By Andy Richardson