Young conductors mentoring scheme

Developing the next generation of choral conductors

The Crouch End Festival Chorus Young Conductor Mentoring Scheme began in 2019 and is open to talented and committed musicians aged between 18 and 35, from any background and with any level of training, who want to make conducting, especially choral conducting, their career.

It provides regular mentoring with musical director David Temple and the opportunity to lead parts of the regular choir rehearsals under David's direction.

The participants are able to learn about preparing choirs in a wide range of music styles, and to discover more about artistic programming and the other areas involved in leading a successful choir.

Chinese-born American Richard Fu (34) is currently the Jette Parker Artist at the Royal Ballet and Opera and a former member of the Vienna State Opera Opernstudio.. Richard has studied at Royal College of Music, Oxford University, the Juilliard School, and with Julius Drake in Graz. Richard has performed piano recitals at the Wigmore Hall, Carnegie Hall, Wiener Konzerthaus, and on BBC Radio 3, and worked with conductors such as Jakub Hrůša and Antonio Pappano. Richard is currently being mentored in orchestral conducting by Sian Edwards and Richard Farnes, and has worked with ensembles including North Czech Philharmonic Teplice, Hradec Králové Philharmonic Orchestra, State Opera Stara Zagora, and members of the Royal Opera House Orchestra.

Richard said:

“As I begin my journey of becoming a conductor, I’m honoured and grateful for this opportunity with David Temple and the Crouch End Festival Chorus, for giving me the opportunity to experience and learn about symphonic choral conducting at the highest level. I am already so looking forward to being part of the CEFC community next season!”

Anne-Charlotte Campos-Cornell (21) is a violinist and conductor currently completing her undergraduate degree at the University of Manchester. She has been studying under the tutelage of Robert Guy and Tom Newall and recently conducted Poulenc's Sinfonietta in her final undergraduate recital. Outside of performance, Anne-Charlotte completed a year of professional placement with the Hallé Youth Ensembles and spent a season working as the Music Specialist for Timber Lake Camp in New York.

Anne-Charlotte said:

“Following a joyful and inspiring audition with David Temple and the Crouch End Festival Chorus, I was thrilled to be offered a place on the CEFC Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme. This opportunity marks a new chapter in my conducting journey, allowing me to further connect my choral and orchestral experience. I’m very much looking forward to getting to know the whole team and exploring new repertoire together over the coming season! ''

The two selected musicians will have mentoring sessions for an academic year with Music Director, David Temple MBE. This will consist of two sessions with David each month, and the opportunity to participate in choral rehearsals. In addition, the musicians will have the opportunity to attend a Choral Conducting workshop with David and the choir to refine their skills.

David Temple said:

“I am looking forward to working with Richard and Anne-Charlotte and helping a new generation of choral conductors to launch their careers.”

What our Young Conductor alumni
say about the scheme

Mariana Rosas (2019-20)

“Having the opportunity to work with David Temple and CEFC 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.”

Mariana has recently been appointed Chorus Director of the London Symphony Chorus.

Matthew Quinn (2019-20)

“The CEFC young conducting scheme provides an excellent balance of practical experience and teaching/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!“

Matthew has recently been appointed Conductor of the London Youth Chamber Choir.

Charlie Perry (2020-21)

“I can’t begin to express how insightful, beneficial and enjoyable my year with CEFC has been. Working with a choir that are so willing and capable to throw themselves into absolutely anything from film scores to early music has taught me so much about what singers and conductors can achieve - even more so considering the circumstances of this last year.

Learning from David has been one of the great pleasures of my career as a musician so far: his unique way of approaching repertoire and rehearsal has given me a vast amount of confidence approaching and understanding large choral works (Monteverdi, Ellington, Mozart, Glass and Stravinsky to name but a few!). I feel a totally different musician to the one I was when I started on the scheme and would highly recommend it to any young conductor.”

Charlie is a Conducting Scholar with The Sixteen’s Genesis programme.

Elliot Mercer (2020-21)

“It has been a brilliant year working with the CEFC. Sitting in rehearsals and hearing their quality is so inspiring, let alone having the opportunity to lead rehearsals and experience their work first-hand.

David's mentoring sessions have been so inspiring. You get everything from invaluable tips and tricks about repertoire and rehearsal to rigorous analysis of a particular gesture, and everything in between! David is a font of knowledge, and it has been great to discuss interpretation, repertoire, best practice when working with different choirs, what to do when in front of an orchestra, how to manage a successful ensemble from every angle and so much more. Working with David and the CEFC gives you access to the highest level of music-making and how best to up your game as a musical leader. “

Elliot is the Music Director for The People’s Show Choir.

Klaudia Zajac (2022-2023)

“The YMCS is special thanks to David’s trust in mentees and provides a lot of practice in front of the choir. Another remarkable point is the honesty and clear feedback that I am given, which is in contrast to the imprecise and vague feedback that I have experienced with other courses. One of the greatest assets of this scheme is the fact, that only 2 conductors are accepted what allows them to have a deep dive experience and lets them feel like part of the CEFC what creates a safe space to grow. Participating in this scheme has been one of the best things that I have done in my musical career. I highly recommend this scheme to any music student who is interested in applying.”

Klaudia is the Music Director of Sammartini in Brussels and Vocaal Ensemble Similare.

Daniel Rodriguez Tijaro (2022-2023)

“Participating in this scheme has been an incredible experience. Not only have I had the chance to conduct an incredible choir, but I have seen myself improve as a choral conductor. I think I am a different conductor now compared to before I started this scheme. I recommend this scheme to any young conductor who is interested in learning and who really wants to understand how to prepare for an astonishing performance. You won’t find this experience in any book or academy!”

Daniel is a Choral Director with the Diocese of Leeds Music and Music Director of Knaresborough Choral Society.