Elizabeth Connell was born in Port Elizabeth, South Africa on 22 October, 1946. She was the daughter of Raymond Connell and Elizabeth Scott. She studied opera at the London Opera Center. Connell made her debut performance at Wexford in 1972 as a mezzo-soprano. That same year she won the Maggie Teyte prize. Following her debut she sang at the opening of the Sydney Opera House in 1973. She was with the English National Opera for five years. She then became a artist. In 1981 she cancelled all her performances. She began singing again in 1983 but as a soprano.