Opera North’s Board of Trustees today announces the appointment of Laura Canning as its new Common Director & CEO. Laura succeeds outgoing Common Director Richard Mantle OBE, who retires the Company on first December. Laura is currently Director of Artistic Administration at Garsington Opera, a post she's held since two thousand fifteen. Her operatic career spans twenty-five years on both sides of the Atlantic. She held the post of Artistic Administrator at Welsh National Opera until two thousand eight, and there moved to Houston, TX (USA) she was the Studio Director for Houston Opera.

In Houston she led the highly respected Youthful Artist Training Programme, d a new Vocal School for undergraduate singers and was a key member of the artistic planning team. She returned to the UK to become Director of Artistic Administration at Garsington Opera as portion of the leadership team of a company which has grown strength to strength in recent years to become a significant player in the UK’s operatic life. Following the two thousand twenty-three Garsington Opera Festival, Laura will formally get up her role at Opera N on fourth December, following a transition period in the autumn.