Back
LPO Conducting Fellowship
Launched in 2023, our flagship LPO Conducting Fellowship seeks to support the development of the world-class conductors of the future, through offering an intensive opportunity to work closely with the Orchestra over a period of 6-8 (non-consecutive) weeks, to two outstanding early-career conductors from backgrounds currently under-represented in conductors of professional, world-class orchestras.
We believe that talent is indiscriminate, yet people from certain backgrounds and communities continue to be under-represented in the orchestral sector. The LPO Conducting Fellowship aims to promote diversity and inclusivity in classical music as a whole, to lead eventually to a sector that is more reflective of the wider population. We invite applications from conductors from historically under-represented communities in terms of gender identity, race, socio-economic backgrounds, neurodiversity, Disability or other under-represented group. Providing artistic and professional development experiences at the highest level of excellence to early-career conductors from under-represented backgrounds is an important goal of the programme.
We are delighted to welcome our Fellow Conductors for the 2024/25 season: Matthew Lynch and Juya Shin.
What’s included in the Fellowship?
Guided by the LPO’s Principal Conductor, Edward Gardner, Fellow Conductors become fully immersed in the life of the Orchestra, getting to know players, artists and staff, developing skills and knowledge, and broadening their professional network. The LPO prides itself as being a welcoming and supportive orchestra and sets out to ensure Fellow Conductors become fully embedded in the LPO community. They are invited to attend rehearsals and concerts conducted by the Principal Conductor and other conductors, and are also offered conducting opportunities with the LPO and its Rising Talent ensembles.
The LPO Conducting Fellowship includes:
- Opportunities to conduct the Orchestra in regional and offsite performances, in educational programmes, and ensembles of its Rising Talent programmes
- Assisting opportunities and mentorship sessions with Edward Gardner
- Full immersion into the life of the Orchestra during the period of the Fellowship, with the aim of forming the basis of a longer-term professional relationship
In addition, and considering the individual needs of Fellow Conductors, the Fellowship may also include:
- Assisting opportunities and 1-1 sessions with other LPO titled and guest conductors
- Feedback from LPO musicians
- Meetings with the LPO’s Resident and featured composers
- Professional development opportunities through sessions with LPO personnel, visiting artists and access to the LPO’s wide network of industry professionals
- Opportunities to participate in wider LPO promotional activity such as pre-concert talks and social media activity
- Additional tailored support around navigating the barriers specific to the Fellow Conductors
Fees will be paid at the LPO prevailing rates for early-career conductors.
Who can apply?
The LPO is committed to advancing equality and inclusive practice in all areas: recruitment, artistic programme, and working environment. The Conducting Fellowship is open to applicants from backgrounds currently under-represented in conductors of professional, world-class orchestras. We are not presenting a fixed set of criteria, and instead ask applicants to self-identify their eligibility in this area. Eligible criteria may include, but are not limited to, under-represented gender, racial, ethnic or socio-economic backgrounds, and may also include neurodiversity and Disability.
Applicants must be able to demonstrate extensive background and training in orchestral conducting, and be able to demonstrate ability in developing and conducting programmes, excellent musicianship and communication skills.
Applicants must be over 18 and not in full-time undergraduate education. UK-based conductors are strongly encouraged to apply and will be prioritised.
When and how to apply
Applications for 2025/26 are now closed.
LPO Fellow Conductors 2024/25: Matthew Lynch and Juya Shin
Meet our 2024/25 Fellow Conductors
British/German conductor Matthew Lynch is a Fellow Conductor of the London Philharmonic Orchestra for 2024/25 and enjoys a busy international career. The 2022/23 season saw him make debuts with, among others, the London Symphony Orchestra, the BBC Concert Orchestra, the Ulster Orchestra, and the Sydney Symphony Orchestra.
Last season he returned to London’s Southbank Centre to conduct the Chineke! Orchestra and made debuts with the Philharmonia, Sinfonia Viva, the London Mozart Players and the French chamber orchestra, Le Balcon. This season he will see him make debuts with the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, the London Philharmonic Orchestra, the BBC Symphony Orchestra, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra.
A keen advocate of contemporary music, Matthew is a regular collaborator of the composers Max Richter and Devonté Hynes and has performed and recorded their music with ensembles internationally. In addition to symphonic and contemporary repertoire, Matthew is a regular conductor of opera, and in recent seasons has conducted new productions of La Bohème, Rusalka, and Don Giovanni in Dresden, and Treemonisha in London.
He also continues to play an active role in music education, working with several youth and training orchestras, including the London Schools’ Symphony Orchestra, the Southbank Sinfonia, the Chineke! Junior Orchestra, and the orchestras of the Royal Irish Academy of Music and Trinity Laban.
Matthew Lynch studied music at St Hugh’s College, Oxford and at the Hochschule für Musik, Dresden. He began his career as a flute player, playing as principal and sub-principal flute with the Chineke! Orchestra and the Mittelsächsische Philharmonie Freiberg. He was a conducting fellow of the Aspen Music Festival and School with Robert Spano, a fellow of the Dartington Festival with Sian Edwards, and has participated in the Tanglewood Conducting Seminar with Stefan Asbury.
When not conducting Matthew likes to clear his head of music by going to the gym and negating the health effects of the gym with good food and wine.
A Classic FM Rising Star for 2024, Korean conductor Juya Shin (born 2000) is the one of the London Philharmonic Orchestra’s Fellow Conductors for the 2024/25 season. She is also pursuing a Master’s degree in Orchestral Conducting at Mannheim University of Music and Performing Arts under Stefan Blunier.
Shin has accumulated significant experience with prestigious orchestras and has participated in masterclasses with renowned conductors such as Manfred Honeck, Jaap van Zweden, Johannes Schlaefli, and Christoph-Mathias Mueller. Her collaborations include work with the Seoul Philharmonic Orchestra, Deutsche Staatsphilharmonie Rheinland-Pfalz, Orquestra Sinfónica do Porto Casa da Música, Janáček Philharmonic Orchestra, Ensemble Modern, and the Nationaltheater-Orchester Mannheim, among others.
In the field of opera, Shin has developed a notable connection with the Georg Solti Accademia, where she has returned as both a coach and conductor. Her operatic work spans a diverse repertoire, including pieces by Mozart, Bizet, Richard Strauss, Johann Strauss, and Lortzing, reflecting her broad range and deep dedication to the genre.
Contact us
If you have any queries about the LPO Conducting Fellowship, please get in touch.
Alison Jones
[email protected]
020 7840 4213
The LPO Conducting Fellowship 2024/25 is generously supported by Patricia Haitink with additional support from Gini and Richard Gabbertas.
LPO Fellow Conductor Alumni
Luis Castillo-Briceño
Charlotte Politi
What our alumni say