Ava June
English lyric soprano Ava June was born in London on 23 July 1931. She began singing lessons at sixteen with Kate Opperman, and later learnt from Joan Cross, Eva Turner, Denis Dowling and Clive Carey.
She worked initially at Sadler's Wells Opera in the chorus. In 1963 she took first prize in the International Competition for Young Singers in Sofia.
Ava June had a very wide repertoire. She sang with Welsh National Opera, Scottish Opera, English National Opera and at Covent Garden.
She continued to teach and coach and direct after retiring from singing, including at Morley College and RCM, Trinity, Guildhall and at the Royal Northern College of Music. She died on 22 February 2013, aged eighty-one.