RNCM Announces New Junior Fellows in Conducting
The RNCM is delighted to announce that Piero Lombardi Iglesias and Marco Bellasi are its new Junior Fellows in Conducting. Both placements, Piero’s for two years and Marco’s for one, will commence in September 2013.
Piero and Marco were two of 12 candidates who attended the live auditions, selected from over 120 applications. Three candidates made it through to the final round conducting the RNCM Symphony Orchestra, following four rounds featuring chamber ensemble, opera, contemporary and chamber orchestra repertoire. They will now receive tuition from Sir Mark Elder, Clark Rundell, Mark Shanahan and visiting conductors, as well as conduct the RNCM Symphony and Chamber Orchestras and benefit from the RNCM’s strong links with the Hallé, BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Manchester Camerata.
Piero (pictured above), who is currently completing his studies at the ZHdK in Zurich, said: ‘Winning the auditions for the Junior Fellow in Conducting is an amazing feeling; a big honour!
‘The placement represents the perfect transition from student to professional conductor, offering me the chance to develop my skills alongside a fantastic team of teachers and different orchestras.
‘I’m really looking forward to working with Sir Mark Elder, Clark Rundell, Mark Heron and Mark Shanahan and to learning as much as possible from them. This is one of the most prestigious positions for a young conductor in Europe and one of the best opportunities I could imagine gaining.’
On his one-year placement Italian conductor Marco, who has completed an MMus in Conducting at the College, added: ‘Winning the Fellowship was such great news for me.
‘I’ve wanted to work with RNCM students because their level of playing is so high. I got to know many of them well during my Master’s studies, and their readiness to collaborate is equal to their musical skills.
‘Watching Sir Mark Elder working with them was inspiring and I’m thrilled to be able to study with him and to continue to gain new knowledge.’
12 March 2013