Madrid’s Reina Sofia School of Music has named Julia Banse as its new head professor of the Alfredo Kraus” Fundación Ramón Areces Voice Chair for the 2023-24 academic year.

Banse will take over the position, which was previously held by such artists as Alfredo Kraus, Teresa Berganza, Tom Krause, Ryland Davies, Francisco Araiza, and her predecessor Susan Bullock CBE. The Chair was established in 1994-95.

Banse had a solid career as a soprano that saw her perform with such conductors as Lorin Maazel, Kent Nagano, Riccardo Chailly, Bernard Haitink, Franz Welser-Möst, Claudio Abbado, and Manfred Honeck. She also performed at such venues as the Schubertiade Schwarzenberg, Wigmore Hall in London, Konzerthaus in Vienna, Kölner Philharmonie, and Boulez Hall, among others.

She previously held professor positions at the Robert Schumann Hochschule in Düsseldorf from 2016 to 2021 as well as the University Mozarteum Salzburg from 2020-21.