Biography

Mary Burman studied singing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama with the renowned teacher Walther Gruner after taking a degree in Music and Drama.

She sang professionally for some years, including a short contract as leader of the Chorus with Teheran Opera. Over many years she sang in recitals, at weddings and on radio in Germany, France and Holland before settling by the sea, where Mary combined raising her family with teaching voice and piano in Exmouth, Devon.

After losing her voice for eighteen months, she had the good fortune to find a sympathetic teacher in Ian Comboy, then at Dartington. Since 2005 Mary has pursued a career in opera, singing with Scottish Opera, Opera North, Opera Holland Park, Reisopera in Holland, Dorset and Lakeland Operas as well as recording for Opera Rara and Chandos with the Geoffrey Mitchell Choir.

She was perhaps best known in the South West for her love of singing the music of Bach and was a founder member of the Exeter Bach Choir.

Recently Mary has started composing, beginning with a set of Four Funeral Songs, suitable both for the Celebration of Life and for funerals . Listen on Bandcamp and purchase to email for a score.

She then collaborated with a friend and set the words of The Joy of Song to music for SAT and piano.

The Joy of Song can be seen on YouTube and on the listen page of this website.

The Joy of Song is dedicated to the memory of someone who took their own life in the lockdown of early 2021. She was a friend of Jo Clarke who wrote the lyrics. We are raising money with performances of this choral piece for mental health charities and in particular the Exeter branch of The Samaritans. Please purchase this song from Bandcamp (75% of the money will go to The Samaritans) and email me for the score should you wish to perform it with your choir. Thank you.