Sad death of Royal Opera talent chief RIPnorman lebrecht August 10, 2026The death has been made known of David Gowland, Artistic Director of the Jette Parker Artists Programme for the past 25 years until his recent invalidity. We first met at a competition in Moscow, where he saw something in me and invited me straight to the second round of auditions for the Young Artists Programme in London. It opened the door to the Royal Opera House, to my professional journey, and to so much of what followed. David had an extraordinary instinct for recognising something special and individual in young singers. The Royal Opera House and the Young Artists Programme were such an important part of his life.