Jane Anthony

Jane Anthony was born and brought up in Headingley, Leeds.  She left to study singing at the Royal Academy of Music and the Royal Northern College of Music before returning home to Leeds to sing and teach. 

For many years she was a busy and successful professional soprano, appearing in opera, oratorio and recitals.  Between 1983 and 2005 she frequently appeared with the Chorus of Opera North.  Jane was also a senior lecturer at Leeds College of Music where she was a gifted and much-loved singing teacher, coach and opera director.  

Jane’s passion for song inspired her to conceive the idea of a Lieder festival in Leeds that would introduce audiences in the north of England to the riches of this marvellous art form.  Fired by her customary energy and drive, she gathered together a small group of like-minded friends to found Leeds Lieder in 2004, and saw the biennial Festival enjoy its fifth successful year in 2013.  Sadly, it would be her last.

Jane was diagnosed with terminal thyroid cancer during the summer of 2014 and died, tragically early but peacefully, surrounded by her family, on Thursday 6 November that year.  

Jane is sadly missed.  But the founding principles of her work for Leeds Lieder remain at the heart of what we strive to achieve, and the continued development and success of Leeds Lieder as a major contributor to cultural life both locally and nationally will be her legacy.