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RNCM appoints Sir Willard White as its new President

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) is delighted to announce the appointment of Sir Willard White as the new President of the College. His term of office starts with immediate effect and his first official engagement will be a Masterclass on 12 February 2009. The outgoing President, the Duchess of Kent, has held the post since 1973 when the RNCM was created by the merger of the Royal Manchester College of Music with the Northern School of Music.


Sir Willard White was born in Jamaica, and studied at the Jamaican School of Music and the JuilliardSchool in New York. Since making his debut with the New York City Opera he has sung with all the major opera companies across the world and his huge repertoire includes the bass-baritone roles in operas by Handel, Mozart, Verdi, Wagner and Gershwin. He also sings regularly with the world’s major conductors and orchestras, and has appeared as soloist many times at the BBC Proms. He was awarded the CBE in 1995 and he was knighted in the Queen’s Birthday Honours in 2004.

Sir Willard White comments,” I am very honoured and look forward to my term of Presidency at the Royal Northern College of Music. I have, over the years, admired the work of the RNCM through my association with colleagues who have had only good words for their experiences in the College. I wish at this time for a wonderful continuation and broadening of the College’s aims under the new leadership of Professor Jonty Stockdale and his team of supporters, board members and staff.”

Professor Jonty Stockdale, Principal of RNCM said, “We are very pleased and fortunate to have Sir Willard White as our new President.  Sir Willard is a highly distinctive artist with a long and illustrious career, and continues to perform at the highest level around the world.  Willard has an informed understanding of conservatoire education and training, and his insight and experience will be an inspiration to our students. We look forward to welcoming him to the College.”

 

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For further information please contact Fiona Davidson, Communications Manager on 0161 907 5369 or This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it