Young Conductors 2025 - Welcome to Gabriela and Nathaniel
Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro, aged 32, and Nathaniel Morley, aged 22, are the successful musicians selected for the sixth year of the prestigious Crouch End Festival Chorus Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme.
The pair were chosen from six shortlisted applicants in a competitive audition and interview process. They were assessed conducting a small choir of Crouch End Festival Chorus singers and our accompanist for two movements from Mozart's Mass in C minor.
Gabriela Opacka-Boccadoro is a Polish-born multifaceted musician now based in London. She studied violin in Krakow and at the Guildhall, before obtaining a PhD from the Chopin University of Music, and now plays with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. She is also a conductor and was previously Assistant Conductor with the King's College London Symphony Orchestra. Gabriela also sings with London Contemporary Voices and enjoys working in theatre.
Gabriela said "I'm really excited to be joining the next CEFC Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme. It's such a great opportunity to learn, connect with amazing musicians, and keep growing as a conductor. I can't wait to see where this journey leads and what we'll create together."
Nathaniel Morley is in his third year studying music at the University of Manchester. He is Conductor of the Cosmo Choir, Director of the Icarus Singing Ensemble, and Chorus Master of the University of Manchester Opera. He is an experienced singer and performs as a baritone soloist.
Nathaniel said "I'm absolutely thrilled to have been offered a place on the Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme. It's an honour to be given the opportunity to refine my conducting skills under the guidance of David Temple and the incredible Crouch End Festival Chorus. I'm really looking forward to the year ahead. I know I'll learn a huge amount and have a great time getting to know the wonderful singers who make this choir so exceptional."
The two young conductors will work with Crouch End Festival Chorus and will have free mentoring sessions for an academic year with Music Director, David Temple MBE. They will have two sessions with David each month, and the opportunity to participate in choral rehearsals. There will also attend an all-day Choral Conducting workshop with David and the choir to hone and consolidate their learning.
The Young Conductors Mentoring Scheme 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.
Previous participants in the scheme are forging successful conducting careers.
Applications for the 2026-27 programme will open in Spring 2026.
