Opera North today announces two significant appointments as it continues to ensure opera remains a vital part of the cultural offering in Leeds and further afield.
Garry Walker will step down as Music Director at the end of his current term in August 2028 to be succeeded by Patrick Lange. Having begun his opera conducting career in Zurich and Lucerne, Patrick has subsequently become a regular guest conductor at leading opera houses worldwide, including the Vienna State Opera, the Bavarian State Opera in Munich and the Opéra National de Paris. Further engagements have taken him to the Royal Opera House in London, Opéra du Capitole Toulouse, Semperoper Dresden, Opera Australia, Opernhaus Zürich, the Canadian Opera Company and the Korean National Opera in Seoul.
Patrick Lange. Photography by De-Da Productions
Patrick made his debut with Opera North in 2025 conducting The Magic Flute to both critical and audience acclaim. He returns to the company this year for a revival of Femi Elufowoju jr’s hard-hitting Rigoletto. As Music Director, he will conduct opera productions in Leeds and on tour, and symphonic concerts as part of the Kirklees Concert Season, as well as supporting the many other aspects of Opera North’s work, including its community and education initiatives.
‘It fills me with great joy and pride to have been appointed Music Director at Opera North. I am deeply moved by the extraordinary spirit that prevails in the company – a spirit that unites all the fantastic people within it in the pursuit of creating beautiful, delightful and memorable emotional experiences. Opera North are passionate about what they do; they truly love opera and their audience, and it is a privilege to be able to make my contribution to this.’
When Garry Walker steps down from the role in 2028, he will have been at the artistic helm of the Company for nine years. His tenure has seen the Chorus and Orchestra of Opera North consistently praised for their versatility and musical excellence during a period which saw the cultural sector faced with the challenges of Covid and its aftermath, and Opera North undergoing a change in leadership with the appointment of General Director Laura Canning in 2023.
‘It’s been a real privilege to have led the Company musically for nearly a decade. I know Opera North has a bright, stable and exciting future, and I look forward to pushing it to greater heights in my remaining two years; there are many exciting projects ahead.’
Merran McRae
The Opera North Board of Trustees welcomes a new Chair following Paul Lee OBE’s decision to step down after 12 years in post. Taking on the role will be Merran McRae.
Merran has extensive experience in governance, strategic leadership and partnership across the public, charitable and cultural sectors. Previously Chief Executive of Wakefield Council, she is now Chair of Leeds and York Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and has held several non-executive roles in the cultural and charitable sectors, including currently as Deputy Chair at Yorkshire Sculpture Park and previously as Trustee and Chair of Nominations at The Hepworth Wakefield. A qualified Executive Coach supporting senior public sector leaders, Merran was appointed a Deputy Lieutenant in the West Yorkshire Lieutenancy in 2024.
‘I am delighted to be appointed Chair of Opera North. I am passionate about the power of culture and creativity to enrich individual lives, strengthen communities and contribute to the identity and vitality of individual places, and Opera North embodies all this. It is a privilege to have the opportunity to lead the Board of an organisation with such a strong artistic reputation and with deep roots in the North combined with a wide reach across the UK and internationally.’
Current Music Director Garry Walker conducting a rehearsal. Photography by Tom Arber
Laura Canning, General Director, Opera North, says:
‘It is wonderful to be able to share the news that Patrick Lange will be our new Music Director from Summer 2028. The Chorus and Orchestra very much enjoyed working with him during The Magic Flute last year when it was clear that he shared our passion for musical and artistic excellence and our focus on creating amazing experiences for our audiences. His humanity, passion for music and theatre, and knowledge of singers and the international opera scene shine through in his hunger to make vital work which speaks to its community. This makes him the perfect choice to take Opera North forward, building on Garry and his predecessors’ exceptional work.
‘I am also thrilled to announce Merran’s appointment as Chair. Her impressive experience across a range of sectors will be an undoubted asset to the Board and to the company as a whole. This is a challenging time for creative organisations, but one in which Opera North’s artistic ambition is second to none and in which we continue to innovate, produce exciting work and introduce thousands of people every year to the highest quality live opera, music and performance. It is wonderful to have both Merran and Patrick joining us as we embark on our next chapter.
‘As we announce these appointments, I would like to thank both Garry and Paul for their unstinting dedication to Opera North during their time with us and wish them all the best in their future endeavours.’
