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Ann Hood, born in Manchester, originally intended to become a doctor, but, after nursing her mother through a serious illness from which she eventually died, she found she had lost her enthusiasm for the medical profession, and applied instead to become a student at the Royal Academy of Music, where she studied for four years under Dame Eva Turner.
While she was at the Academy, three 'boys' were required for the trio in "The Magic Flute" being performed at Covent Garden, and Ann was offered the part of one of the 'boys'. "One of my funniest experiences happened there". she says. "We had to fly in on wires, and on one occasion the flying apparatus jammed and we were suspended in mid-air for the whole of the song - not the easiest position in which to sing, particularly with a tight belt around your middle!"
Having realised one girlhood ambition, of singing on Covent Garden stage, Ann Hood applied for a job with the D'Oyly Carte Company, and was immediately engaged as a principal soprano in 1963. By a strange coincidence Ann's first performance was in "H.M.S. Pinafore", in the same part that her mother had played when making her debut.
She married David Palmer, also a member of the company, on March 7th 1964 and they both left the company in 1967
Ann Hood was with the company from 1963 to 1967 and played the parts of Josephine, Mabel, Patience, Princess Ida, Rose Maybud, Elsie Maynard and Gianetta.
In 1971 she sang Kate Pinkerton in "Madama Butterfly" with Sadler's Wells Opera. She made a hit as Kate in "Kiss me Kate" and also sang Frasquita in "Carmen" and Phyllis in "Iolanthe"
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