2019-2020

Mariana Rosas

Mariana Rosas is an Argentinian conductor based in the UK, having previously been educated in Argentina and Italy. She was an Assistant Professor of Choral Practice at the National University of Arts in Buenos Aires and worked as a guest conductor in Denmark, Canada, Italy, and Switzerland. in 2018 she moved to the UK to study at the University of Birmingham with Simon Halsey.

Since participating in the YCMS, she has been appointed Associate Chorus Director for London Symphony Chorus (August 2023) and a Visiting Lecturer in Choral Conducting at the University of Birmingham.  Mariana is the conductor of University Upper Voices, Cantoras Upper Voices Chamber Choir, and Soundabout Inclusive Choir,

Mariana was appointed Britten Pears Young Artist for 2023-2024. Her current commitments also include: Chorus Master with Birmingham Opera Company for their production of Tippett’s ’New Year’ ; Guest conductor (Nov’24) with WDR Rundfunkchor (Cologne, Germany); and Chorus Master for ‘A Child of Our Time’ (Autumn 2024) with the Royal College of Music Chorus.

Matthew Quinn

Matthew Quinn is from Belfast, and studied choral and orchestral conducting at the University of Manchester and the Royal College of Music with Robert Guy and Mark Heron respectively.

After his year in the YCMS, Matthew has conducted ensembles including the Ulster Orchestra, RTÉ Concert Orchestra, NI Opera, Cappella Caeciliana, and Manchester Philharmonic Choir. He won a place as a Conducting Scholar with Genesis Sixteen, studying under Harry Christophers and Eamonn Dougan, and as a Young Artist with Northern Ireland Opera, most recently working as assistant conductor on their production of Puccini’s La Bohème. He was the winner of the 2019 RTÉ/Feis Ceoil Orchestral Conducting Award with the RTÉ Concert Orchestra - recording Dvorak’s Ninth Symphony with the orchestra for RTÉ Lyric FM.

Matthew was appointed Conductor of the London Youth Chamber Choir in 2023 and Chorus Director at English National Opera in 2024.  He is also Music Director of Myriad Chamber Choir and Capella Caeliniana.

2020-2021

Charlie Perry

Charlie Perry is a Choral Leader and singer from London. He graduated from the University of Manchester with First Class honours, and has since been working in the Northwest across a wide variety of musical projects, most notably as Director of Music at the Manchester Oratory.

Since participating in the YCMS, he has the following appointments: Musical Director of Stafford Choral Society and the Epworth Choir in Woking. He is also the Choral Director at St.George’s Cathedral, Southwark (this involves visiting State Catholic Primary Schools and giving singing workshops to around 350 young people each week, alongside taking rehearsals with the Cathedral Choristers and Junior Choir).

Charlie is also a Conducting Scholar with the prestigious Genesis Sixteen Young Artist Scheme, and a freelance singer and workshop leader.

Elliot Mercer

Elliot Mercer studied at the University of Birmingham where he majored in choral conducting and sung in as many choirs as he could get his hands on.

Since participating in the YCMS, he has been appointed Choral Director of the Royal College of Music’s Junior Department (2024) whilst continuing to be Head of C-Curricular Music at Francis Holland School. He is also Musical Director of Bookham Choral Society, Music Director of The People’s Show Choir, Assistant Conductor of the National Children's Choir of Great Britain, and Assistant Choral Director at Holy Trinity Church, Guildford. 

Elliott regularly acts as deputy conductor and workshop leader around the country, including Tenebrae, Music of Life and the Parliament Choir.

2022-2023

Klaudia Zajac

Klaudia was born in Poland where she obtained a BA in Music from Krakow Academy. She was then awarded a Masters in Choral Conducting  from the Royal Conservatory of Brussels.

She has worked as a conductor with several choirs and orchestras around Europe, including Nova Era Vocal Ensemble (Portugal), Hochschule Hannover Concert Choir and Orchestra (Germany), and North Czech Philharmonic (Czech Republic).

Klaudia is the Music Director of two choirs in Belgium: Sammartini and Vocaal Ensemble Similare.

Daniel Rodriguez Tijaro 

Daniel was born in Colombia, where he obtained the Order of Merit when graduating with a BA in Music and Choral Conducting (Javeriana University of Bogotá, 2019).

He was Assistant Conductor with the Javeriana Chamber Choir and Cantoría Infantil of Colombia, before being appointed Musical Director of the Gaitana Representative Choir in Fundación Nacional Batuta (2016-2021).

In 2023 Daniel was awarded a MA in Choral Conducting at the University of Birmingham and since participating in the YCMS has been appointed: Choral Director with the Diocese of Leeds Music, Music Director of Knaresborough Choral Society, and the Cub Choir in Halifax. 

In 2024 he was appointed Conductor of the Leeds Methodist Choir and a Fellow of the National Youth Choir.