Maureen lands top U.S. role

Plum job at Berklee College of Music

A Coatbridge soprano is making beautiful music with the next generation of singers after landing a top role at a prestigious American college.

Maureen McMullan moved to the States a decade ago to embark on postgraduate studies at Berklee College of Music in Boston.

The multi- talented 38- year- old mum wowed students and faculty members so much she has now been named as concert and event producer for external affairs at the institute of contemporary music and performing arts.

A songwriter, arranger, soprano and bandleader trained in classical and contemporary music, Maureen has sung professionally in diverse genres including jazz, pop, folk, musical theatre and R&B.

She is a Berklee alumna and has served as assistant chair of the voice department since 2015.

Speaking about her important new post, Maureen said: “I am honoured to lead these remarkable students into their next chapter of artistic growth and vitality.

“With a deep personal connection to Berklee, I feel not only a passion for its mission, but also an embodiment of the core values it has instilled in me.

“I aspire to champion new voices, embrace cutting- edge digital technologies, and create vibrant interdisciplinary programming that is truly global in its outlook.

“My creative vision is to ensure our musical programs reflect and celebrate the cultural richness and diversity found in our extraordinarily talented community.”

Maureen has been singing since she was four years old and her stunning subsequent success came about after she honed her skills at schools in her home town.

She explained: “I went to St Augustine’s Primary and remember vividly that we sang as a class every day – songs for fun and religious observance.

“The school not only had its own choir, but visiting peripatetic music teachers who came to the school on a weekly basis giving free music lessons on various instruments.

“I then attended St Ambrose High, which now has a designation as a music comprehensive. Once again, in addition to music being an integral part of the core curriculum, there were many wonderful enrichment opportunities to receive free music lessons with visiting teachers, and to participate in large-scale concerts, choirs, big bands, and school shows.

“It was at St Ambrose that I met my most influential music teacher, Val Moyes, who really became a mentor to me.

“She helped shape not only my

The 38-year-old honed her musical skills at St Augustine’s Primary and St Ambrose High voice and musical growth, but also my decision to study music at university and make the performing arts my career.

“Val is an outstanding teacher who gets the very best out of her students, to the point that she was awarded an MBE for services as a music educator.

It was at St Ambrose that I met my most influential music

Well-schooled