Praised for her ‘effortless, vivacious singing’ and ‘deep musicality’, British/Irish Soprano Jane Burnell completed her Master of Music in Vocal and Opera Studies degree at the Royal Northern College of Music under the tutelage of international Soprano, Linda Richardson. Jane also studied under Adriana Festeu at Leeds Conservatoire where she received The Leeds Rotary Club Music Prize and The Peter Roberts CBE Memorial Prize. She continues to study privately with Linda Richardson. 

Jane began the 2024/2025 season by performing Molly Allgood Lady Gregory in America and Chorus Le Maschere for Wexford Festival Opera. Later this season she performs as Mademoiselle Silberklang The Impresario (Mozart) with Buxton International Festival, and will return to Wexford Festival Opera as a member of the Wexford Factory performing in Il Viaggio a Reims (Rossini) and A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Britten).

Jane’s 2023/2024 season included: professional debut as Gasparina La Canterina (Haydn) and Giovanna Ernani (Verdi) for Buxton International Festival. During 2022/2023, Jane was a Buxton International Festival Young Artist and performed in the chorus for La Sonnambula.

“…soprano Jane Burnell, who delivers a star turn in the role of Gasparina, replete with sparky,  heartless brilliance,”- The Stage

Past opera roles include: Pamina The Magic Flute (Leeds Youth Opera), Due Donne Le Nozze di Figaro (RNCM Opera), La Novizia Suor Angelica (Random Opera Company), Adele Die Fledermaus (LCSU Opera Society), Belinda/Second Woman Dido and Aeneas (LUUMS Opera Society) and Mabel (cover) Pirates of Penzance (Rocket Opera). Starting to explore contemporary opera, Jane has also performed the title role of Pauline in The Language of Flowers, a contemporary feminist opera, at Thought Bubble Festival (Harrogate). In scenes, Jane has performed Zerlina Don Giovanni (RNCM & Melofonetica), Guilia La Scala di Seta (RNCM) and Rosaura Le Donne Curiose (RNCM).

Jane has performed in Opera Galas with RNCM (annual Opera Gala at The Bridgewater Hall) and Clonter Opera.

Jane is a regular concert soloist, particularly for Baroque repertoire, performing with choirs and orchestras all across the UK, including: Mozart Exsultate Jubilate (Suffolk Philharmonic Orchestra), Handel Messiah (Skipton Camerata), Bach St Matthew Passion (Manchester Baroque) and Bach B Minor Mass (National Festival Orchestra). In 2021 and 2024 Jane performed as a soloist for The Great Yorkshire Proms across Yorkshire with the Yorkshire Symphony Orchestra, alongside the likes of Sir Willard White and Aled Jones MBE.

As a recitalist, Jane has performed at The Bridgewater Hall (RNCM Songsters), Leeds Town Hall (International Concert Season), and the Howard Assembly Room (Opera North Partnership concert). Jane also performs numerous song recitals to raise money for various churches. 

Jane has participated in masterclasses with Antonio Pappano, Lisette Oropesa, Michael Chance, Richard Wiegold, Roderick Williams, Martin Pickard and Matteo Dalle Fratte. 

Aside from performing, Jane works closely with Leeds Lieder as a Workshop Leader for their outreach programme in schools across Leeds, and Grange Park Primary Robins across Manchester. Jane is a keen conductor and in 2021 she conducted the Leeds Conservatoire Student Union Opera Society in their performance of Dido & Aeneas.

Jane’s studies at the RNCM were generously supported by the Richard Newitt Fund.