Dame Janet Ritterman (b.1941) was born in Sydney, where she studied at the State Conservatorium before undertaking postgraduate studies in London. An active pianist, accompanist and chamber musician, she combined a busy schedule of recitals with academic research, and in 1991 she was appointed the Principal of Dartington College of Arts. She became the director of the Royal College of Music in 1993, a post that she held until 2005, and during the same period she was an Honorary Visiting Professor of Music Education at the University of Plymouth. She was involved with a great many projects and government initiatives to improve and raise the profile of music and music education, including work with the Arts Council and the Arts and Humanities Research Council – in addition to similar organisations in Europe and Australia.