Indian Soprano Anusha Merrin is a native of Kerala and grew up in the Kingdom of Bahrain, is currently based in Manchester. She is a recent graduate of the Royal Northern College of Music, having completed both a Postgraduate Diploma and Master of Music in Vocal Studies and Opera with Distinction, under the tutelage of Elizabeth Ritchie. Anusha is currently on the Pegasus Opera and Glyndebourne Mentorship Scheme and was a Young Artist at the Leeds Lieder Festival 2024.

Whilst studying at the RNCM, Anusha was selected as a member of the RNCM Songsters, which is a pool of the most accomplished performers of song repertoire. Notable achievements include Soloist in the RNCM 50th Anniversary Opera Gala with the Opera North orchestra conducted by Garry Walker, Finalist in the Frederic Cox Award 2023, Finalist in the Joyce and Michael Kennedy Award for the Singing of Strauss 2023, winning Second Prize in the same competition in 2022 and Finalist in the Betty Bannerman French Song Award 2022. She was also a Leverhulme Arts Trust scholar participating in residencies with Opera North. Anusha is extremely grateful to the GREAT Indian Scholarship (in partnership with the British Council), Dame Eva Turner Award, Opera Awards Foundation Bursary, Inlaks Shivdasani Foundation Take-Off Grant, The Peter Heath Award, and the Maurice and Jean Buckley Award for their generous support towards her studies at the RNCM. Anusha also holds a BA (Hons) in Music from Middlesex University, London and a Diploma in Music Performance from KM Music Conservatory, Chennai.

Opera roles at the RNCM include Mary Crawford in Jonathan Dove’s Mansfield Park, Geraldine in Samuel Barber’s A Hand of Bridge and Ida in Johann Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Roles from excerpts include Gretel in Humperdinck’s Hänsel und Gretel, Miss Wingrave in Britten’s Owen Wingrave, Sophie in Richard Strauss’ Der Rosenkavalier, Dorine in Kirke Mechem’s Tartuffe, Cricket in Jonathan Dove’s Adventures of Pinocchio, Clorinda in Rossini’s La Cenerentola, Governess in Britten Turn of the Screw, Anne Trulove in Stravinsky’s The Rake’s Progress, Konstanze in Mozart’s Die Entführung auf dem Serail and Adele in J.Strauss’ Die Fledermaus. Her chorus work includes Ernani conducted by Adrian Kelly with the Opera North orchestra at the Buxton International Festival, Madama Butterfly conducted by Sir Mark Elder with the Hallé orchestra at the Bridgewater Hall, Manchester and La Fedelta Premiata conducted by Natalie Murray Beale at the Royal Opera House, Mumbai.

Other achievements include winning Second Prize in the Ashburnham English Song Awards 2024, Finalist in the David Clover Festival of Singing 2024, Finalist of the Dean and Chadlington Festival 2024 and 2023, Best Overall Performer at the Art Song Festival 2021 with Trinity Laban and KM Music Conservatory, Quarter Finalist at the CS Vocal Competition 2019 in Chicago, Finalist in the Voices of India National Singing Competition 2018, Mumbai.

As a concert artist, highlights include Soprano soloist in Carl Orff’s Carmina Burana with the Guernsey Choral and Orchestral Society, a fusion concert performing Western music with Indian influences and instruments, various opera galas and song recitals. Anusha has also enjoyed collaborating with several renowned artists and mentors in various masterclasses, led by Dame Felicity Lott, Sir Thomas Allen, Joan Rodgers, David Owen Norris, Jennifer Larmore, Benjamin Appl and Patricia Rozario.

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