Fellowships

The RNCM’s Orchestral Junior Fellowships provide an ideal bridge between conservatoire training and a professional music career. Offered annually to experienced musicians, these 10-month positions combine valuable performance experience with the flexibility to pursue external professional opportunities.

Junior Fellows perform across the RNCM’s wide range of orchestras and ensembles, including opera, symphony, chamber, repertoire, and contemporary music projects. Fellows work alongside internationally renowned conductors, directors, and visiting professional musicians, building networks and gaining experience in a world-class training environment.

In addition to ensemble work, Fellows may support conducting classes, workshops, and school-based activities, serving as professional role models for current RNCM students. Fellows are expected to bring strong orchestral experience, excellent preparation, and professional standards to every project.

The fellowship programme includes up to 400 hours of activity over the academic year, with schedules planned in advance to help Fellows balance RNCM commitments with freelance and professional engagements.

The RNCM’s Chamber Music Junior Fellowship is designed to support talented chamber ensembles and musicians as they establish their professional careers. The fellowship provides a valuable opportunity to gain experience, confidence and industry connections while developing artistic individuality and a distinctive professional profile.

Fellows become part of the RNCM’s internationally renowned Chamber Music Department, contributing to a vibrant programme of performances, coaching and collaborative projects. The role offers dedicated time and space to explore chamber repertoire in depth, refine ensemble playing, and develop a deeper understanding of the creative and musical dynamics of chamber performance.

Working alongside RNCM students and staff, Fellows perform both independently and in side-by-side settings, share their expertise with emerging musicians, and act as ambassadors for the College. The fellowship is ideal for musicians who already have professional chamber music experience and are looking to build their careers while becoming an active part of one of the UK’s leading chamber music environments.

Previous Chamber Music Junior Fellows have included some of the most exciting emerging ensembles on the international stage, reflecting the fellowship’s reputation as a springboard to a successful professional career.

The RNCM’s Junior Fellowship in Accompaniment offers emerging professional accompanists the opportunity to refine their skills and gain extensive practical experience in a conservatoire environment. Designed for musicians who have completed advanced accompaniment training, the fellowship provides a valuable bridge between study and a professional career.

Junior Fellows work closely with students and tutors across all of the RNCM’s performance schools, supporting a wide range of vocal and instrumental activity. This includes accompanying lessons, classes, assessments, competitions, concerts and recitals, giving Fellows broad experience of the diverse demands of collaborative piano performance.

The fellowship offers up to 350 hours of professional experience over the academic year, enabling Fellows to develop an extensive knowledge of vocal and instrumental repertoire while building confidence, versatility and professional networks. Mentor support from RNCM staff provides guidance and development throughout the award.

As an integral part of RNCM life, Junior Fellows contribute to the conservatoire’s vibrant artistic community, collaborating with talented young musicians and gaining hands-on experience that prepares them for a successful career as a collaborative pianist.

The RNCM’s Junior Fellowship in Repetiteur Studies provides an exceptional opportunity for aspiring opera repetiteurs to develop their skills in a professional conservatoire environment. Designed as a bridge between advanced study and a professional career, the fellowship enables musicians to deepen their knowledge of the operatic repertoire while gaining valuable practical experience in vocal coaching and opera production.

Working within the School of Vocal Studies and Opera, Junior Fellows play a key role in supporting rehearsals, coaching singers and contributing to the RNCM’s opera programme. The fellowship offers extensive hands-on experience across a broad range of repertoire, helping Fellows develop the musical, language, and collaborative skills required of today’s opera professionals.

Fellows benefit from individual tuition and mentoring from RNCM staff and visiting repetiteurs, gaining insight from experienced professionals while building confidence, versatility and industry connections. As active members of the RNCM community, they work closely with students, conductors, directors, and vocal professors, becoming an integral part of the conservatoire’s vibrant performance culture.

The fellowship is ideal for musicians with a strong grounding in operatic repertoire and some practical experience in the field who are looking to establish themselves as professional repetiteurs and collaborative artists.