The Royal Conservatoire of Scotland’s Leverhulme Conducting Fellow has taken two top prizes in a prestigious global competition.

Riley Court-Wood won second prize and the audience award at the Tokyo International Conducting Competition. Established in 1967, it’s a global platform for some of the conducting world’s most exciting new talents.

“It was my first competition, so I was just hoping to get past the first round. It was already an honour to be invited, so this has all been a genuine shock to me,” said Riley.

Watch Riley in the final from 3:07:55

Riley was appointed the Leverhulme Conducting Fellow at RCS in September 2023, following a selection process involving 150 global candidates.

The Fellowship, in association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra (BBC SSO), is for conductors on the cusp of their careers, offering a sought-after step in the journey between study and the professional podium.

Riley, who works extensively with Martyn Brabbins – RCS’s Visiting Professor of Conducting – was appointed after an intensive shortlisting process that saw ten conductors, from the UK, Finland, Austria, Italy, Poland, Holland, Greece and the USA, travel to Glasgow to work with Professor Brabbins.

Riley added: “I would like to include a huge thank you to Martyn Brabbins for all his help and support in the lead up to and during the competition.”

Commenting on Riley’s win, Martyn Brabbins said: “Achieving second prize and the coveted audience prize in the Tokyo competition is a massive achievement for Riley.

“His musicality, and natural authority in front of an orchestra, combined with a lot of hard preparatory work has paid rich dividends.

“Riley is a much valued and admired member of the RCS conducting family and we are immensely proud of him.”