The Royal Opera House (ROH), Royal Philharmonic Society and National Opera Studio are launching a new initiative to support female conductors. Run under the banner of ROH’s Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, from May 2019 there will be two new Women Conductors Courses.
One of the courses is two days long and focuses on conducting for ballet, while the other lasts a week and is aimed at opera. In the ballet course, conductors will learn about the specific demands of ballet and working with choreographers. Birmingham Royal Ballet’s principal conductor Paul Murphy will lead the sessions, with support from conductor Alice Farnham.
As for the opera course, score preparation, alternative repertory, conducting recitative, as well as co-ordinating singers and instrumentalists will be covered. Conductors will get the chance to conduct ROH singers and musicians, too.
Commented conductor and opera course leader Jessica Cottis: “A week-long immersive programme, it has been designed to give women working as conductors the opportunity to develop on a deep level the fluency of their technical and musical skills for conducting opera.”
The ballet course will take place on 18-19 May at ROH with six places available, and three observer places. The opera course will take place from 1-5 July at the National Opera Studio in Wandsworth and at ROH. 12 places are available for this course, with six observer spots.
Full details are available at roh.org.uk/about/jette-parker-young-artists-programme.