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Arts world in mourning after Yorkshire opera star found dead in village street
Yorkshire is today mourning the loss of one of its brightest arts stars after the sudden death of opera singer Amy Black.
The mezzo-soprano, who had gained an international reputation for her singing, was found outside a house in Keyingham, near Hull, just before 8am yesterday.
The 36-year-old had only recently started performing again following major heart surgery.
Miss Black, who grew up in Hedon, studied at the Royal Academy of Music and toured with the European Opera, as well as spending seasons at Glyndebourne and with English National Opera.
She gave many concerts and recitals in the UK, appearing locally at Hull City Hall and singing regularly at Hull FC matches at the KC Stadium.
A founder member of the London Theatre Voices, a quartet of friends who met while singing for the English National Opera, she was known as the star of Classics in the Park, held at Brantingham, East Yorkshire.
She last performed on Saturday night with the quartet, as guests of Driffield Male Voice Choir.
Her father Neil is a town councillor in Hedon and yesterday evening fellow councillor John Ledger said: "Everybody is so shocked. It is really unbelievable. She was such a popular person, so friendly and so happy.
"She'd worked so hard to get where she got.
"She has appeared all over – people refer very affectionately to Amy Black. It is just a hell of a loss to Hedon. I think everybody in Hedon is grieving."
Miss Black underwent surgery in June at the Royal Brompton Hospital after routine tests revealed she had a defect of the aortic valve that results in the formation of two leaflets, or cusps, instead of the normal three.
Humberside Police said they had been called by the ambulance service following the discovery of a body near Mill Nurseries, Main Street, in Keyingham. In a statement they said a post-mortem examination would take place to establish how she died.
A statement added: "Officers are in attendance and the area is cordoned off as initial enquiries are made. However it is too early to speculate as to the nature of those inquiries."
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Weather for Yorkshire
Saturday 26 May 2012
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Temperature: 9 C to 21 C
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