Opera Singer. She was born in London and was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School, where her music teacher was Gustav Holst, and at Trinity College, London, where she played the violin. In 1924, she joined Lilian Baylis's Old Vic Opera Company and, from 1931 to 1946, was the principal soprano of Sadlers Wells Opera. In 1948, she founded the Opera School (later, the National School of Opera) and remained a director until 1964. She created the lead soprano roles in five operas by Benjamin Britten: Ellen Orford in "Peter Grimes"; the Female Chorus in "The Rape of Lucretia"; Lady Billows in "Albert Herring"; Mrs. Grose in "The Turn of the Screw"; and Queen Elizabeth the First in "Gloriana". This last was appropriate, because she shared her birthday with Good Queen Bess. In 1951, Joan Cross was awarded the C.B.E. She is buried in the same churchyard as her associates, Lord Britten, Sir Peter Pears, and Imogen Holst.

Opera Singer. She was born in London and was educated at St. Paul's Girls' School, where her music teacher was Gustav Holst, and at Trinity College, London, where she played the violin. In 1924, she joined Lilian Baylis's Old Vic Opera Company and, from 1931 to 1946, was the principal soprano of Sadlers Wells Opera. In 1948, she founded the Opera School (later, the National School of Opera) and remained a director until 1964. She created the lead soprano roles in five operas by Benjamin Britten: Ellen Orford in "Peter Grimes"; the Female Chorus in "The Rape of Lucretia"; Lady Billows in "Albert Herring"; Mrs. Grose in "The Turn of the Screw"; and Queen Elizabeth the First in "Gloriana". This last was appropriate, because she shared her birthday with Good Queen Bess. In 1951, Joan Cross was awarded the C.B.E. She is buried in the same churchyard as her associates, Lord Britten, Sir Peter Pears, and Imogen Holst.

Bio by: Iain MacFarlaine