Welcome to Richard and Anne-Charlotte!

Two talented young musicians who are passionate about choral conducting will join us in September 2026 for the seventh year of our successful Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme.

Five shortlisted young musicians were invited to an audition in which they conducted a movement from Mozart’s Vesperae Solennes de Confessore supported by a small choir from Crouch End Festival Chorus and our accompanist.

The successful young conductors are Richard Fu and Anne-Charlotte Campos-Cornell.

Richard Fu

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

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 said: 

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

Founded in 2019, this scheme is open to applications from talented and committed musicians aged between 18 and 35, from any background and with any level of training, who want to make conducting, especially symphonic choral conducting, their career. Previous participants in the scheme are forging successful conducting careers.

Applications for the 2027-28 YCMS programme will open in early 2027.