Young conductors invited to apply for RNCM fellowship

Young conductors looking to take the next step may be interested to learn that the Royal Northern College of Music (RNCM) has opened up applications for its Conductors Scheme for next year.
The music education body will be holding its annual auditions for the Leverhulme Junior Fellowship in Conducting during February 2011. Widely regarded in the industry as one of the finest programmes available, RNCM said that the successful candidate is likely to be a graduate with professional experience.
For the fellow accepted onto the Composer Scheme a number of exciting opportunities are available.
These include the opportunity to work with and alongside Sir Mark Elder, holder of the International Chair in Conducting at the RNCM and many visiting tutors including Mark Shanahan and RNCM head of conducting Clark Rundell.
In addition, much hands-on practical experience will be included in the course conducting RNCM’s Symphony, Chamber and Concert Orchestra.
Ewa Strusinska, now assistant conductor at the Halle Orchestra and a former pupil of the scheme, said that the two-year long course had helped to shape her career, adding that the course was “fascinating” and “full of wonderful musical experiences”.
“The Junior Fellow position allowed me to work with many music ensembles and it gave me a huge amount of podium time. The music we were working on was always ambitious and of the very best sort,” she said.
“As Junior Fellow I still had time for preparing myself for a Gustav Mahler International Conducting Competition in Bamberg and later for The Halle Assistant Conductor auditions. Those two were very important milestones in my artistic life, and I am sure RNCM work has helped me significantly in achieving them.”
The closing date for applications is November 30th and auditions will be held in Manchester during February 2011.