[2] Bellingham learned to play piano at the age of eleven, receiving lessons first from her mother, and then the church organist, who also taught her to sing.

Society members noticed that the world record for the longest cadenza (improvised passage following an aria) was set by an Italian tenor in 1815, and proposed that Bellingham attempt to better the 25 minute time.

[1] Bellingham created six operatic roles, and sang with the major choirs and orchestras in New Zealand over a forty year singing career.

[1][4] Bellingham joined the faculty of the University of Otago as a senior lecturer in 1994, and was later appointed William Evans Associate Professor in Voice.

[6] In the 2016 Queen's Birthday Honours, Bellingham was appointed a Member of the New Zealand Order of Merit for services to classical singing.