Professor Linda Merrick awarded CBE in King’s New Year Honours

We’re absolutely thrilled to share that our Principal, Professor Linda Merrick, was awarded a CBE in the King’s New Year Honours for services to music in higher education.

An innovative and supportive leader, Linda has been a key figure in the sector for many years and is the force behind our strategic vision to Define the Future of Music. 

Joining the RNCM as Director of Performance Studies in 2001, she became Vice-Principal in 2006 and Acting Principal in 2012. This January, she celebrates 10 years at the helm after securing the position of Principal in 2013.

But Linda’s work and passion for music education isn’t just linked to our College. As Chair of Conservatoires UK (CUK), she leads the UK’s network of conservatoires, working with them to develop best practice for training and education in performing arts and to promote the sector’s excellence nationally and globally. She also became the first music conservatoire Principal to be appointed to the Board of the Association of British Orchestra (ABO) and was part of an expert panel chosen to devise a new model music curriculum to help schools deliver world-class teaching.

Congratulations Linda, we’re all extremely proud of you!

Christine Rice awarded MBE

Christine Rice

We’d also like to extend our congratulations to alumna Christine Rice, who was awarded an MBE for services to opera. 

Studying physics at Oxford before joining the RNCM to pursue her love of music, Christine is recognised as one of the leading mezzo-sopranos of her generation. Throughout her career to date she’s performed at major European opera houses, including Covent Garden, Bayerische Staatsoper, ENO, Oper Frankfurt, Teatro Real and The Metropolitan, New York.

To learn more about Christine, click here.

3 January 2023