After the programme, in December 2008, Smith signed a contract with Universal Classics and Jazz for a £2.3 million advance, the largest ever granted to a schoolgirl.

Faryl became the fastest-selling solo classical album in British chart history, selling 29,200 copies in the first week.

In addition to releasing her two albums, she featured on a charity cover of "The Prayer", released in March 2010, provided vocals for the 2012 album The Magic of a Thousand Strings by the International Harp Ensemble, and performed at numerous public events, including the 2009 Royal Variety Performance.

She continued to perform regularly, including at major sporting events, such as a Six Nations match at Twickenham Stadium in February 2019.

[2] She auditioned for the second series of the ITV reality television programme Britain's Got Talent, giving what Jon O'Brien, of Allmusic, called a "mature" performance of "Ave Maria",[3] and was put through to the live shows.

[7] As a result of her final performance of "Ave Maria", Smith was invited to be a guest singer at a songwriting awards ceremony in London.

[9] While Smith was competing in Britain's Got Talent, Cowell arranged for her to receive singing lessons from the leading vocal coach Yvie Burnett, who had previously coached Paul Potts, an earlier winner of Britain's Got Talent, as well as Leona Lewis, a winner of The X Factor.

[10][11] The story was broken by The Sunday Mirror; writing for the paper, Lara Gould characterised the lessons as "secret".

[18] In an interview with the Metro, Smith talked about her future plans, insisting that she did not wish to be dubbed as the next Charlotte Church.

"[17] The album was produced by Jon Cohen, who had previously worked with artists including the Operababes and Vanessa Mae.

[3] Promotion began in January, with performances at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel and appearances at the debut of 2009 London revival of Oliver!.

[22] A television advert and music video for "River of Light" were recorded to further publicise the release, and Smith appeared on the cover of April's Classic FM Magazine.

"[27] Pete Paphides, writing for The Times, said that the songs were performed "with power and restraint" and that the "arrangements by Jon Cohen suggest some kind of aesthetic endeavour beyond the basic thing for which they exist".

The category is voted for by the public, and the shortlist comprises the ten best-selling classical albums of the previous year.

[47] The album, which was recorded at Sarm Studios in Notting Hill, London, was completed in early October,[48] and is loosely based on Lewis Carroll's Alice's Adventures in Wonderland.

[50] To publicise the album, Smith appeared on numerous radio shows, as well as making television appearances including on Ready Steady Cook, Blue Peter, the BBC News Channel, The Alan Titchmarsh Show and Sky News Sunrise.

He said that the influence of Alice's Adventures in Wonderland was often hard to perceive and that Cohen and Smith had "sweetened the classical elements".

However, he praised the arrangements of "Adiemus", "Barcarolle", "Merry Christmas, Mr Lawrence" and "Blow The Wind Southerly", but noted that on tracks including "Close To You", "the lack of emotional weight is telling".

Smith described the break with the label as mainly her decision, as she needed to focus on her A Levels, which would allow her to get to university, explaining in an interview that "It wasn't like it ended horribly.

[56] Smith also performed elsewhere with The Soldiers, including at St Paul's Cathedral and Great Ormond Street Children's Hospital.

[56] In the aftermath of the 2010 Haiti earthquake, Smith and 22 other classical musicians from the UK recorded a cover version of "The Prayer", which was released for download on 14 March.

[57] Smith said "It's a real honour to be a part of something that is being done for the first time, and I hope that all music lovers get involved and help raise money for the campaign.

"[58] The group, dubbed "Classical Band Aid",[59] recorded the track at Metropolis Studios[60] and were backed by the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra.

[63] Angela Young, reviewing the festival for the Bournemouth Daily Echo, said "Faryl Smith was my personal highlight of the Thursday night line-up, her bizarrely powerful voice (considering her diminutive size and age) taking my breath away and it contrasted so well with her naivete as she said 'at least it's not raining' – just as the heavens opened.

[70] In further charitable events later in the year, she raised £2,700 for a hospice in Cransley,[71] and performed in aid of the Salvation Army in Portsmouth.

[82] While working with the International Harp Ensemble, Smith began training with vocal coach Joy Mammen, who also teaches Lesley Garrett, as well as learning German and Italian, with the intention of moving from classical crossover towards opera.