Linda Merrick

• Job title: Member of the Governing Body since 2017
• Department(s): Governance
• Specialism(s): Governors

Professor Linda Merrick is Principal of the Royal Northern College of Music and an internationally-renowned clarinet soloist, recording artist and pedagogue.

Her catalogue of over 30 solo recordings features new concertos she has commissioned by Gary Carpenter, Nigel Clarke, Martin Ellerby, John McLeod, Stephen McNeff, Edwin Roxburgh, Philip Sparke, Philip Spratley, Kit Turnbull and Guy Woolfenden for labels such as Naxos, Chandos, NMC, Guild and Metier. She has also released première recordings of clarinet quintets with the Navarra and Kreutzer Quartets by composers including Nigel Clarke, Robert Crawford, Wilfred Josephs, John McCabe and Edwin Roxburgh, with recordings of works by Gary Carpenter, Michael Finnissy, David Horne, Paul Patterson and Paul Pellay due to be released in 2018. In addition, Linda has commissioned and recorded over 20 works for clarinet and electronics, and released two CDs featuring works with clarinet and harpsicord by Robert Keeley.

Linda has performed as a concerto soloist across America, Asia, Australia, Europe, South America, the UAE and the UK, and broadcast for BBC Radio 3, Radio France, DRS1 Switzerland, CKWR Canada and Arte TV South Korea. A founder member of the contemporary ensemble ‘Sounds Positive’, she has premiered over 80 chamber works for winds and piano by British composers, and released a further three CDs.

In addition to her position as RNCM Principal, Linda is Chair of Conservatoires UK and a member of the International Advisory Council for the Creative Industries Federation. She is also Vice-President of the Clarinet and Saxophone Society of Great Britain and the UK Representative for Howarth Clarinets.