Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland

Our two-year Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship programme is for conductors on the verge of a career. The Fellowship is offered in association with the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra and Scottish Opera. The Fellowship includes a generous bursary for the successful candidate of £10,000 per year, supported by the Leverhulme Trust. In addition to this stipend, the Fellow will be offered paid work within the RCS amounting to up to £5,000. The Fellowship will commence at the beginning of the new academic year in September 2025.

The Conducting Fellow will work and study extensively with Visiting Professor of Conducting Martyn Brabbins, other Conservatoire teaching staff and visiting conductors, and with all the orchestras and ensembles within the Conservatoire. In their second year, the Fellow will act as Assistant Conductor for a specified production at Scottish Opera.

The Fellow will be enabled and encouraged to build relationships with the wide array of conductors who visit Scotland each year to work with the National companies. The Fellow has access to most rehearsals at the National Companies and will act as assistant to the Chief Conductor of the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra when they are in Glasgow. The Fellow will be able to accompany the BBC SSO to its rehearsals and concerts at the BBC Proms and Edinburgh International Festival.

In order to be eligible for the Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship, you must either be a UK citizen, or have appropriate permission to live and work in the UK. If you are a non-UK citizen and about to graduate from a UK conservatoire or university, you can apply for a Graduate Visa which lasts 2 years and this visa will allow you to take up the Fellowship.

Applications for the Fellowship are now open. The closing date is Friday 18 April at 5pm BST. Late applications cannot be accepted.

Auditions will take place at RCS in Glasgow on Wednesday 14 and Thursday 15 May.