Led by acclaimed British conductor Alice Farnham and supported by Grant Thornton, the National Concert Halls (NCH) inaugural female conductor programme has a dozen participants and will run from now until next summer.
“I want to inspire young women and show them that conducting is an option, something that they may not have even considered …these workshops offer a safe place to have a go," says Alice Farnham
The 12 candidates in our picture are: Raimonda Zalisauskaite, Lithuanian/Irish music student of Maynooth University; Lynsey Callaghan, Dublin-based conductor and Trinity College graduate; Molly Rose Lucy Burke from Co. Cork; Hilda Chan, graduate of CIT Cork School of Music; Emma-Jane Stoker Phelan, current music student at Trinity College Dublin; Raeghynya Zutshi, Trinity College Graduate; Grace Bergin, graduate of Kodály Institute, Kecskemét; Síobhra Quinlan, student of composition at Trinity College Dublin; Santa Ignace, practising musician and piano teacher; Meabh Martin, Graduate of University of St. Andrews; Naoise Whearity, graduate of Trinity College Dublin and Catriona Clarke, teacher and student of MA in Conducting at CIT School of Music.
Paul Jacobs, Partner at Grant Thornton says: “Grant Thornton are delighted to partner with the NCH on this cutting-edge initiative which aims to provide opportunities for female conductors who may wish to pursue conducting professionally. We will be actively participating in the programme through professional advice and mentoring workshops with the 12 participants to assist with their development and leadership skills, so as to assist with their prospective conducting careers”.
Together, the participants will engage in a specially curated 10-month programme of workshops and tutorials, which started on 29th September designed to coach, mentor, encourage and promote talented female conductors at the outset of their careers.
It provides expertise and hands-on practical experience on preparing and interpreting musical scores, leading rehearsals, practical conducting sessions, career advice, shadowing opportunities as well as a showcase concert with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra in summer of 2018.
It will be supported by Irish conductors David Brophy (leading Irish conductor), Eimear Noone, (LA based Irish conductor of Video Games Live) and renowned opera and orchestral conductor Fergus Sheil.
They will be involved in a Finale concert with the RTÉ National Symphony Orchestra, Summer 2018.