RNCM conductor makes Northern Ballet debut

Congratulations to postgraduate conductor Lauren Wasynczuk, who conducted the first of five performances of Northern Ballet’s The Great Gatsby at Leeds Grand Theatre on Saturday night.

Lauren, currently studying for a Master of Music in Conducting with Mark Heron, secured the incredible opportunity following a workshop with the Leeds-based organisation last year.

She said: ‘It was a joy making my ballet conducting debut with Northern Ballet…Truly magnificent playing by the orchestra and absolutely moving choreography and world-class dancing. I am extremely grateful to Jonathan Lo for the opportunity to continue working with this wonderful company and for the great partnership Northern Ballet has with RNCM Conducting to make opportunities like these possible.’

Written by Richard Rodney Bennett and choreographed by David Nixon CBE, The Great Gatsby is on tour until May. Lauren will conduct a second performance at Leeds Grand Theatre on 16 March, before moving to Sheffield Lyceum Theatre on 23 March, and Sadler’s Wells Theatre on 18 and 20 May.

Thanks to the generous support of the Thistle Trust, the Thriplow Charitable Trust and the RNCM Principal’s Circle, the RNCM has developed a professional partnership with Northern Ballet, enabling young conductors to gain valuable insight into the techniques required to conduct dance.

The partnership is, we believe, the only one of its kind between a professional dance company and major conservatoire anywhere in the world.

13 March 2023