The Royal Opera House, the National Opera Studio and the RPS Women Conductors Programme is piloting a week-long conducting course for opera conducting, and applications are now open!

We will be looking for UK based participants with an interest in conducting opera and who wish to delve deeper into the specific skills required by a conductor of opera. High-level keyboard skills are desirable, however, professional musicians with a commitment to working within opera, but without keyboard skills with be considered as both participants and observers.

The 5-day course is designed for female musicians who already have a good understanding of how opera works, but may not have had experience conducting professionally or in the opera house; they may have trained as a répétiteur or singer, or have a similar background that has created a familiarity and competence with the art-form from which they feel comfortable to explore it in more detail. The work will include score preparation, approaches to different styles or repertoire, conducting recitative, co-ordinating singers and instrumentalists, and clarity of expression. The course has been inspired by the work of RPS Women Conductors and Alice Farnham, and will be led by senior conductors and musicians from the Royal Opera and the National Opera Studio, together with renowned guests, including Sian Edwards, Jane Glover, and Mark Shanahan, who will help develop participants’ conducting skills in a supportive learning environment.

Applications are welcomed from UK residents who are available for the full period of the course whether as full participant or as observers.

The course will be free of cost, and will be held 3-7 September 2018 at the National Opera Studio in South London. 

Deadline for application is Friday 20 April 2018.

Find out more information and apply now via the RPO website:

Applications for this course are now closed.