Chloé van Soeterstede is Marin Alsop Taki Concordia Conducting Fellow

Congratulations to alum Chloé van Soeterstede, announced as the 2019 – 21 Marin Alsop Taki Concordia Conducting Fellow.

Established in the 2009/10 season, this unique programme offers the opportunity for female conductors to receive personalised artistic and career development mentoring by Marin Alsop and other industry professionals.

Rebecca Tong, our Junior Fellow in Conducting, was also recognised, winning one of three newly-established Taki Awards, which comprise a financial prize and support from Marin Alsop and the Taki Fellowship team.

Marin said: ‘It is a privilege to be in a position to impact the lives of aspiring women conductors. I can clearly see what is needed to assist emerging conductors in the pursuit of their dreams and want to make the road easier and more rewarding for them.’

Mark Heron, Deputy Head of Conducting, added: ‘We’re absolutely thrilled that Chloe and Rebecca have been recognised by this leading programme for women conductors, and that two of the four conductors given awards trained at the RNCM. The last couple of years have seen a long overdue sea change in the industry’s willingness to see a better gender balance amongst the conductors who stand in front of professional orchestras. The role of Marin Alsop and the Taki Concordia Fellowship in bringing this about, and in developing it further, has been fantastic to see.’

Born in France in 1988, Chloé graduated from the RNCM in 2017. Since then, she has conducted the Orchestre National de Lille, European Union Youth Orchestra, North Cyprus Symphony Orchestra, Southbank Sinfonia, Manchester Camerata and, among others, Aurora Orchestra. She also works regularly with the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain and the Hallé Youth Orchestra.

Highlights for the 2019/20 season include her début with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, performances in France with the Orchestra National de Lyon, Orchestre National des Pays de la Loire, Orchestre Symphonique Région Centre-Val de Loire, Orchestre de l’Opéra de Lorraine and the Orchestre National de Montpellier.

Rebecca, a native Indonesian of Chinese decent, completed her Master’s in Orchestral Conducting at College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati with Mark Gibson before joining the RNCM last September. She previously held the position of CCM Conducting Fellow with the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and Assistant Conductor with the Cincinnati Symphony Youth Orchestra, and is Resident Conductor of the Jakarta Sinfonia Orchestra.

15 May 2019