(Credit: ©Sian Trenberth)

The Royal Northern College of Music has appointed legendary singer Ann Murray DBE as International Chair of Singing.

The Dublin born mezzo said of her appointment, “I feel most privileged to take on the role of International Chair, following in the footsteps of the late Sir Graham Vick, with whom I was a contemporary at the Royal Manchester College of Music. Having gained so much from my years at College, I now hope to pass on in some way what I have been fortunate to learn from the extraordinary Mr. Frederic Cox, and so many distinguished musicians and artists thereafter, during my career.”

Professor Lynne Dawson, Head of Vocal Studies and Opera, added, “We are absolutely delighted to announce Ann Murray, DBE, as our International Chair of Singing, from September 2021. Ann’s extraordinary career has taken her all over the world to work with the most celebrated orchestras, conductors, recording companies and colleague musicians and has spanned several decades at the highest international level.”

Murray has performed with the English National Opera and the Royal Opera House, among many international halls Her repertoire spans the works of Handel, Ravel, Donizetti, Mozart, and Strauss, among many others. She was an honorary Dame Commander of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire in the 2002 Golden Jubilee Queen’s Birthday Honours and was awarded the Bavarian Order of Merit in 2004.