Opera North’s Board of Trustees has announced the appointment of Laura Canning as its new General Director & CEO.

Canning will succeed outgoing General Director Richard Mantle OBE, who retires from the Company on Dec. 1.

She is currently Director of Artistic  Administration at Garsington Opera, a post she has held since 2015. She has also worked as an Artistic Administrator at Welsh National Opera and was the Studio Director for Houston Grand Opera. She then went on to become Director of Artistic Administration at Garsington Opera as part of the leadership team of a company.

Canning will take her new position on Dec. 4 following a transition period in the autumn.

In a statement Canning said, “I am so excited to join Opera North at this crucial time in its development and to build on Richard’s enviable achievements. I have long admired the company’s artistic ambition, the strength and innovation of its outreach work and the world-class quality of its performers and staff. I am looking forward to working with this exceptional team to continue to bring the joy of opera to our communities, and to advocate for the artform across the country.”

Paul Lee, Chair of the Board of Trustees, Opera North, added, “Throughout her career Laura has achieved wonderful artistic highs, and she has demonstrated immense knowledge and achievement in the world of opera coupled with an obvious sense of passion and love of this great art form. During her eight-year tenure at Garsington she has contributed significantly to the artistic development of that company, and we are thrilled to have secured someone with such experience and reputation.”