Professor Linda Merrick CBE

Name: Professor Linda Merrick CBE

Role: Principal

About: In January 2023, Linda celebrates 10 years at the helm of the RNCM. Joining us as Director of Performance Studies in 2001, she became Vice-Principal in 2006 and Acting Principal in 2012. An innovative and supportive leader, she is a constant inspiration to our students and the force behind our strategic vision to Define the Future of Music. 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. She was awarded a CBE for services to music in higher education in the King’s 2023 New Year Honours.

Did you know? Linda played the piano from the age of six and classical guitar from eight. She took up the clarinet, which she still plays professionally, when she reached high school. She said: ‘Once I progressed to secondary school – a large inner city comprehensive school in Bristol with a small but thriving music department – I was keen to take up a wind instrument. I originally wanted to play the oboe, but the only instrument available was a clarinet. I took it home over the Christmas holidays, taught myself to play a bit, then came back in January and started to have some lessons. So, the reason I play the clarinet is that it was the only instrument my school had in the cupboard at the time!’

Read Linda’s Day in the Life here.