Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship

About the Fellowship

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 supported by the Leverhulme Trust for the successful candidate.

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.