RNCM announces six appointments across the Schools of Vocal Studies and Opera and Keyboard Studies

The Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has appointed acclaimed sopranos Amanda Roocroft and Anna Devin as Professors of Voice, Anne Le Bozec and Joseph Middleton as International Visiting Professors of Piano (Collaborative), Lieder specialist Richard Stokes as guest tutor in the School of Vocal Studies and Opera (SVSO), and German pianist Uta Weyand as International Visiting Professor in the School of Keyboard Studies (SKS).

Amanda Roocroft is an award-winning British soprano, vocal pedagogue, and proud alumnus of the RNCM who, throughout her 30 years as a performer and 20 years as a teacher, has championed diverse operatic and recital repertoire. Her career has included leading roles at the Royal Opera House (Covent Garden), English National Opera, Glyndebourne, the Metropolitan Opera, the Paris Opéra, and the Bayerische Staatsoper.

Irish soprano Anna Devin has achieved international success on operatic and concert stages throughout Europe and the USA for her interpretation of Baroque and classical repertoire. An alumnus of the Royal Irish Academy of Music, Guildhall School of Music and Drama, and London’s National Opera Studio, Anna has taught at the Royal Academy of Music, the Irish National Opera Studio, NOS, and RIAM. She is an Ambassador for the British Dyslexia Association and founder of the Dublin Voice Studio.

Joseph Middleton joins as International Visiting Professor of Lieder and Piano (Collaborative). He is currently Artistic Director of Leeds Song and Professor of Ensemble Piano at the Royal Academy of Music. An international specialist in song accompaniment and chamber music, he collaborates with many of the world’s foremost singers and has performed at venues and festivals across Europe, North America, and Asia.

Anne Le Bozec comes to the RNCM as International Visiting Professor of Piano (Collaborative). She teaches French song, German Lieder, vocal accompaniment, and chamber music in masterclasses worldwide, and is Professor of Vocal Accompaniment at the Conservatoire National Superieur de Paris, as well as joint Artistic Director of French chamber music festival Fêtes Musicales de l’Aubrac. Her illustrious career has earned her the French national distinction of Knight of the Order of Arts and Letters.

Newly appointed International Visiting Professor of Piano Uta Weyand is founder and artistic director of the renowned Pianale festival based in Fulda, Germany. She combines a dynamic concert life with masterclass activities in Europe, the USA, Brazil, Cuba, China, Japan, and Singapore. She is regularly a jury member of important international piano competitions including the Gina Bachauer (USA), Franz Liszt (Germany), Edvard Grieg (Norway), Hamamatsu (Japan), Van Cliburn (USA), and Sydney (Australia).

Also joining SVSO in September as a guest tutor for the José and Rafton Smallwood Masterclass Series is Richard Stokes, currently Professor of Lieder at the Royal Academy of Music. He has translated Wozzeck, Parsifal, Lulu, L’Amour de loin, and Jakob Lenz for the likes of Opera North and ENO, and his many books have examined the works of J.S. Bach, Jules Renard, and Hugo Wolf, plus Spanish, French, German, and English songbooks.

Speaking about the new appointments, Head of SVSO, Professor Lynne Dawson, says: ‘These world-renowned artists bring a wealth of international experience in the professional world and are all highly skilled teachers who underline our commitment to creating opportunities for our students to work with the highest calibre musicians. The addition of Anne and Joseph also affirms our commitment to cross-School collaboration, providing students with the opportunity to work across genre and instrument.’

RNCM Head of SKS, Graham Scott, adds: ‘Uta brings to the college a wealth of teaching experience and has proved very popular with our students during masterclasses as part of the James Mottram International Piano Competition. Her unique Pianale has inspired countless young pianists during the past 20 years, and continues to do so.’

20 July 2026