The Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra has announced Enyi Okpara as its Calleva Assistant Conductor.

The conductor will begin his position during teh 2024-25 season and was selected after auditions which took place at Lighthouse, Poole. He was selected by a vote from the Orchestra’s musicians. The role will provide a platform to build professional experience and development, with mentoring from some of the world’s leading names in classical music.

Okpara studied Orchestral Conducting with Sian Edwards at the Royal Academy of Music and is currently Conductor-in-Residence with the London Schools Symphony Orchestra, alongside positions with Camden Youth Choir, Elysium Music, ARK Music, and Havant Symphony Orchestra.

In a statement, Okpara said: “I’m so looking forward to the year ahead and working with these amazing musicians, who have shown so much warmth towards all of us finalists this week. To have the opportunity to work regularly with a professional orchestra of this calibre is such an amazing experience — I can’t wait!”