Prof. Linda Merrick (England)
Principal, Royal Northern College of Music

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

Her catalog of over 40 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 premiere recordings of clarinet quintets with the Navarra and Kreutzer Quartets by composers including Simon Bainbridge, Nigel Clarke, Robert Crawford, Michael Finnissy, Wilfred Josephs, John McCabe, and Edwin Roxburgh, with recordings of works by Edward Cowie, David Horne, Paul Patterson, and Paul Pellay due to be released in 2022. In addition, Linda has commissioned and recorded over 20 works for clarinet and electronics and released two CDs featuring works with clarinet and harpsichord 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 Principal at the RNCM, Linda is Chair of Conservatoires UK and the UK representative for Howarth Clarinets.