Johanna Mayr

MagPhil, DipTrans, MCIL

Speech and Language

Born in Austria, Johanna studied at the University of Salzburg and trained as a teacher. After moving to the UK she initially worked in the German department at the Universities of Leeds and Sussex.

Johanna has been a German language coach for over 30 years, working for various opera companies mainly in the UK - including numerous productions for Glyndebourne - as well as at the Royal College of Music (since 1993), the Royal Academy of Music and the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. She has also coached for Decca, The Sixteen, BBC Singers, Britten Sinfonia, with conductors including Sir Charles Mackerras, Sir Andrew Davis, Vladimir Jurowsky, Robin Ticciati, Richard Farnes, Ivor Bolton and Ben Glassberg.

Aside from her work as a language coach, Johanna is also a translator. She holds a Diploma in Translation from the Chartered Institute of Linguists of which she is a Member, and has translated over 300 CD booklets, mainly for EMI. She has also produced several word-for-word translations of opera libretti for study purposes. In 2019 she wrote a new set of surtitles for the latest Glyndebourne production of Die Zauberflöte.

Faculties / departments: Vocal Studies