Anna Appleby

Dr Anna Appleby is a composer, performer, and educator based at the University of Sheffield as a Lecturer in Composition within the School of Languages, Arts and Societies. Her work bridges opera, ballet, and electronic music with a focus on community engagement and music education. She holds a first-class Music degree from the University of Oxford, where her studies were rooted in St Hilda's College’s feminist and musical history.

• Education: First-class degree in Music from University of Oxford
• Academic Affiliation: University of Sheffield (current), Royal Northern College of Music (Affiliate)

Anna’s research interests combine collaborative composition, queer narratives, and neurodivergent representation in the arts. She explores multimedia performance, electronic integration in orchestral and operatic contexts, and music’s role in social cohesion. Her work often involves community co-creation and educational outreach.

Her recent publications include Ghost (2024), a digital Gesamtkunstwerk, and Bridges (2023) and Sonnet 43 (2023) focusing on emotional and instrumental interplay. Earlier works like Drought (2022) and Pay the Piper (2022) highlight collaborations with the BBC Philharmonic and youth ensembles.

• 2024: Associate Artist at Royal Northern College of Music
• 2022: YAM Awards for Best Opera for Young Audiences

Anna mentors emerging composers and choreographers, with residencies at Rambert Dance Company (2016/17) and Joss Arnott Dance. She has secured grants from Arts Council England, PRS Foundation, and the RPS Drummond Fund. Her collaborations span Dane Hurst, Julie Cunningham, and Carolyn Bolton, with a consistent thread of innovative music-dance interplay.