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Conducting

If you are accepted on one of the RNCM's acclaimed conducting programmes, you will find yourself immersed in the widest possible range of conducting experiences and working with conductors of the highest international level.

Undergraduate Programme

A conducting option is available as a course component under the Undergraduate Professional Studies scheme. The College does not admit Principal Study conductors at Undergraduate level.

Postgraduate Programmes

MPhil, MMus or PGDip(Perf) in Conducting

Principal Study conducting is one of the strands which you can pursue at Diploma, Masters and MPhil level.  If you take one of these courses you will benefit from individual tuition from Clark Rundell, Head of Conducting and Director of Contemporary Music, as well as classes from Mark Shanahan and other visiting and guest tutors. Mark Elder CBE, Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra, is International Chair in Conducting at the RNCM. 

Podium opportunities are varied but will normally include opera excerpts, new music, and wind and brass ensembles. When orchestral opportunities arise, they are allocated on merit.

Audition requirements for postgraduate conducting studies.

Junior Fellowship in Conducting

Each year, the RNCM selects a Junior Fellow in Conducting. This much sought-after Fellowship is tenable for two years and provides an opportunity for a young conductor, about to enter the profession, to gain widespread experience with the full range of the RNCM’s ensembles. 

Tuition

In addition to tuition from the staff who work with students on the postgraduate conducting courses (see above), Junior Fellows have the opportunity to work with Mark Elder CBE, Music Director of the Hallé Orchestra.

Opportunities

The scheme offers extensive podium time with the RNCM's orchestras, ensembles and opera projects. The Junior Fellow also has the freedom to undertake a certain number of external professional engagements and benefit from the RNCM’s strong links with the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras, the Manchester Camerata, and the Northern Sinfonia. The post attracts a yearly stipend, which is currently in the region of UK £9,000. 

Conductors trained at the RNCM

The Junior Fellowship scheme has a proven track record in launching the professional careers of its incumbents. Some of the conductors with established careers who were formerly Junior Fellows at the RNCM include: David Angus, Symphony Orchestra of Flanders; Philippe Bach, Teatro Real, Madrid and Theater Lübeck; Matthew Coorey, formerly Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra; André de Ridder, formerly Hallé Orchestra; Sian Edwards, formerly English National Opera; Sachio Fujioka, Kansai Symphony Orchestra, Japan; Paul Mann, Odense Symphony Orchestra, Denmark; En Shao, Macao Orchestra; Garry Walker, Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Matthew Wood, Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra and Ewa Strusinska, Hallé Orchestra.

Short conducting courses for non-students

The RNCM operates an extremely popular programme of short conducting courses for non-students. These are aimed at young conductors who may be considering full time study, and professional and amateur musicians for whom conducting is part of a wider portfolio of activities. More information.

If you have any further queries, please contact Esther Wakeman,  Conducting Administrator,
T 0161 907 5206 or E This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it This email address is being protected from spam bots, you need Javascript enabled to view it