Nancy Jane Hermiston

Nancy Jane Hermiston is a Professor at the University of British Columbia's Faculty of Arts, where she serves as Chair of the Voice and Opera Division and Director of the UBC Opera Ensemble. She is affiliated with the School of Music and the Language Sciences Institute, with research connections to Vancouver General Hospital through interdisciplinary medical science projects.

Professor Hermiston earned her Bachelor of Music from the University of Toronto. Her academic journey followed an extensive international performance career that included engagements across Canada, the United States, and Europe.

Her research focuses on opera, voice, and theatre training with particular emphasis on interdisciplinary work. A significant project is the Wall Opera Project examining 'Opera training and its effect on sculpting the brain' in collaboration with L. Boyd and J. Werker. Her work bridges performing arts with medical sciences, exploring how artistic training affects neural development and cognitive processes.

• Dorothy Somerset Award for Performance and Development in the Visual and Performing Arts (2008)
• Killam Teaching Prize (2009/2010 academic year)
• Appointed Officer of the Order of Canada (2014) for achievements as an opera singer, stage director and educator

As academic leader of the Voice and Opera programs, Professor Hermiston oversees comprehensive training that integrates performance practice with scholarly research. She also serves as University Marshal, reflecting her significant institutional leadership role at UBC. Her teaching has been recognized with the prestigious Killam Teaching Prize.

Professor Hermiston leads the UBC Opera Ensemble in regular productions and international collaborations, including the recent exchange with Harbin Normal University in China. Her Wall Opera Project represents a cutting-edge interdisciplinary initiative connecting vocal training with neuroscience research, demonstrating her commitment to innovative approaches in music education.