Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship 2023

Our two-year Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship programme is for conductors on the verge of a career. The Fellowship is offered in association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and includes a generous bursary of £16,000 per annum supported by the Leverhulme Trust for the successful candidate.

Auditions will take place on Sunday 16 and Monday 17 April 2023 in Glasgow.

The Conducting Fellow will work and study extensively with Martyn Brabbins (Visiting Professor of Conducting), other Conservatoire teaching staff and visiting conductors, the RCS Opera department, and with all the orchestras and ensembles within the Conservatoire.

The Fellow will be enabled and encouraged to build relationships with the wide array of conductors who visit Scotland each year to work with the National companies. We regularly welcome Thomas Søndergård (Music Director of the RSNO, Music Director Designate of the Minnesota Orchestra), Ryan Wigglesworth (Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra), Stuart Stratford (Music Director of Scottish Opera) and Jean-Claude Picard (Chief Conductor of Scottish Ballet) to lead classes. The Fellow has access to most rehearsals at the National Companies and will act as assistant to the Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra when they are in Glasgow.

The Fellowship will provide a unique blend of training within the context of a supportive Conservatoire environment and extensive professional links with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Scottish Opera, Red Note Ensemble, Scottish Ballet and the Scottish Chamber Orchestra. The aim of the Fellowship is to provide a final bridge between a young conductor’s postgraduate study and their eventual access to the profession itself.

Previous Leverhulme Conducting Fellows who have made successful entries into the profession include:

Audition timetable 2023

Tuesday 28 February 2023: applications close via Acceptd (https://app.getacceptd.com/rcs)

Friday 10 March 2023: shortlist announced and candidates contacted

Sunday 16 & Monday 17 April 2023: in-person auditions in Glasgow

September 2023: two-year Fellowship commences

 

Applications 2023

You must submit an application via Acceptd where you will be invited to upload your personal information and media. In addition to filmed footage of your conducting, you are invited to submit film of you performing on your principal instrument or recordings of original compositions if you would like to do so in support of your application. If you have already submitted an application earlier in the process via Acceptd, you are welcome to update your contact details, content and/or media links. Please email admissions@rcs.ac.uk directly with any updated information. There is no age limit for the Fellowship.

 

Auditions 2023

Shortlisted candidates will be invited to attend Glasgow for two days (Sunday 16 and Monday 17 April 2023). As part of the selection process, candidates will work with a professional chamber ensemble as well as singers and instrumentalists studying at RCS. Two or three candidates will be selected from the auditionees to work with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra under the guidance of Professor Martyn Brabbins. Full details of required repertoire will be forwarded to candidates after the closing date.

Please contact Michael Bawtree, Conducting Coordinator, for any further information: m.bawtree@rcs.ac.uk