The death has taken place in a London hospital of the much-loved singer and teacher Michael Harper.
After a stage career in Europe and Asia, Michael Harper became Professor of Singing at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.
He featured in the Sky Arts television series Anyone Can Sing and created a prize ‘to promote the study and performance of art songs by African-heritage composers’. He was funded by BBC Radio 3 to research the neglected composer Julia Perry.
UPDATE: Statement by RNCM:
We are deeply saddened to announce the death of Michael Harper, Professor of Singing, on Monday 10 March at the age of 61.
In September 2019 Michael joined our School of Vocal Studies and Opera as a Principal Study Tutor, and in 2021 established the Williams-Howard Prize in honour of his grandfather (Chester Ambrose Williams) and teacher (Helen Palmer Howard) to promote the study and performance of art songs by African-heritage composers. Alongside this, Michael helped to establish a repository of these art songs in the RNCM Library, and continually fundraised to ensure the prize would run in perpetuity.
Unearthing the music of underrepresented composers was a passion of Michael’s, and between 2019 and 2022 he received funding from the AHRC to collaborate with the BBC on a project that evaluated the work of Julia Perry (1924 – 1979). Two years later, Michael hosted Julia Perry Week at the RNCM, which showcased Julia’s life and music through a series of lectures, presentations, and concerts.
Michael will be greatly missed by staff and students at the RNCM, and our thoughts remain with his family and friends at this incredibly sad time.
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