Valerie was born in Fife, Scotland, and studied with Patricia MacMahon at the Royal Scottish Academy of Music and Drama. Whilst there she won the Governors Recital Prize, the prestigious John Noble Bursary, three Caird Scholarships, the Worshipful Company of Musicians Silver Medal, and was twice a finalist in the Kathleen Ferrier and Royal Overseas League competitions.
Valerie's operatic roles with English National Opera include Anina in Peter Konwitschny’s production of La Traviata conducted by Ed Gardener, Glasha in David Alden’s production of Katya Kabanova, Madalena in Sir Johnathon Millar's production of Rigoletto, 2nd Lady in Magic Flute, The Fishmonger in Richards Jones acclaimed production of Julietta, Anne's Mother in the World Premiere of Nico Muhly’s Two Boys, Grimgerde in Die Walkure which was broadcast live from the pyramid stage at Glastonbury and most recently Grandmother Burja in David Alden's production of Jenufa about which Rupert Christiansen of the Telegraph said that ‘Valerie Reid's excellent mezzo cleverly unleashed the power of Janacek's score’. Valerie completed a very successful tour as Lady Jane in the ETO production of the Gilbert and Sullivan masterpiece Patience and looks forward to Juno in Semele at the Brel Festival near Toulouse this Autumn as well as St John Passion, Vivaldi Gloria, and St Matthew Passion in various venues across the UK.
Equally at home on the concert and oratorio platform, Valerie has sung Elgar Sea Pictures at the Megaron Concert Hall in Athens and at the Bury St Edmunds Festival, Verdi Requiem in Glasgow Royal Concert Hall, Coventry Cathedral, St Albans Abbey – Dream of Gerontius in Dunblane Cathedral, Bury St Edmunds Cathedral – Elijah at the Barbican, Truro Cathedral and St Albans Abbey. Valerie is a highly respected vocal tutor both privately and at the London College of Music