Applications open for 2020-21 conductor mentoring scheme

13 February 2020

Following the great success of the first scheme, Crouch End Festival Chorus is pleased to announce another chance for musicians who are passionate about conducting choral music to apply for our young conductor mentoring scheme to start in September 2020.

This is an opportunity for two talented young musicians aged 18 to 35 to develop their conducting skills in a mentoring programme run by Crouch End Festival Chorus.

The scheme offers free mentoring sessions during the 2020-21 season with Music Director, David Temple MBE, the chance to work with the choir during rehearsals and opportunities to learn about arts management.

In the first year of the scheme we appointed Mariana Rosas and Matthew Quinn.

32 year old Mariana already conducted choirs in the Midlands and at a school in London, and wanted to learn about working with symphonic choirs.

"Having the opportunity to work with David Temple and Crouch End Festival Chorus is a truly amazing opportunity to discover the 'behind the scenes' of a choir, and personally, it has helped me develop my skills as a conductor, reflect on different points of view and incorporate new approaches to my conducting,. I highly recommend this scheme."

Matthew, 22, has this year conducted a professional orchestra for the first time, and has been appointed as muiscal director at a childrens' theatre company in his native Belfast.

“The CEFC young conducting scheme provides an excellent balance of practical experience and teaching with feedback. It has helped me take my conducting, rehearsing and preparation skills to the next level and prepared me for the world of being a freelance conductor!’