arts

Female Conductors Invited To Apply For Traineeship At Opera North

Previous female conductor trainee Kay Salomon conducting the Opera North Youth Orchestra. Photo credit: Justin Slee.

Applications are now open for Opera North’s training scheme for emerging female conductors which seeks to address the gender imbalance within classical music.

Enabled by the Harewood Young Artists Fund as part of the Opera North Future Fund, the scheme was launched by the Company in 2019 in recognition of the fact that talented female conductors are less likely to find a way into the industry than their male counterparts. Designed to give wide-ranging training and support, it provides a valuable insight into the workings of a professional orchestra and opera company and a chance to be mentored by Opera North Music staff, including Head of Music David Cowan.

The traineeship takes place over a nine-week period during the Company’s 2023-24 winter season. Opportunities are given to observe opera rehearsals and coaching sessions, to watch guest conductors at work, and to engage with Education and outreach programmes including weekly rehearsals with the Opera North Youth Company. The successful applicant will also attend two conducting workshops with the Orchestra of Opera North under the guidance of Opera North Music Director Garry Walker.

Garry Walker, commented:

“We created this scheme in the hope of inspiring more female artists to see opera and orchestral music as a viable career path and to ensure that Opera North, and the industry at large, continue to draw on the widest range of conducting talent.

“As one of the country’s leading arts organisations, we are perfectly placed to provide this kind of traineeship. We are looking for someone with outstanding musical and communication skills, who may or may not yet have had much conducting experience, but who wishes to explore a pathway into conducting by means of this immersive programme.”

The Female Conductor Traineeship will take place over nine weeks in Leeds during the period December 2023 to February 2024. A £350 bursary per week and expenses will be provided. Candidates should be based in the UK and are invited to submit applications via Musical Chairs including a CV, a video clip of their performing or conducting showing their musicianship and communicative skills, a short video introduction, and letters of recommendation from two professional musicians. They are also asked to complete a diversity monitoring form.

Opera North is keen to work with talented women from all backgrounds who can bring different experiences to the role. Applications are encouraged from people who are currently underrepresented in the workforce, including minority ethnic communities and candidates with disabilities. As a specific role aiming to improve career development opportunities for women within conducting, the role is open to all candidates who identify as female.

The closing date for applications is 10.59pm on Wednesday 14 June with interviews for the shortlisted candidate being held on Thursday 22 and Thursday 29 June in Leeds.