U.K’s Opera North has announced that Joséphine Korda will take up its annual 9-week Female Conductor Traineeship, while studying for her master’s at the Royal Northern College of Music in Manchester.

The company said that as it addresses the gender imbalance in classical music – and on the podium in particular, the intensive program offers emerging conductors wide-ranging experience and support within the UK’s national opera company in the north.

Korda will take part in masterclasses with the Orchestra of Opera North and participate in our education work, as well as sitting in on preparations for our three winter season operas and orchestral concert program.

In a statement Korda said, “I am so excited to be the Female Conductor Trainee at Opera North this season. It is going to be invaluable to be a part of the development of three such different and impressive operas; to see how they come together in a professional environment and through the collaboration of an extremely experienced team. The bespoke nature of this traineeship will allow me to develop enormously as an operatic conductor, and to gain knowledge from the mentorship and guidance of Opera North’s in-house and guest conductors. I’d like to thank Opera North sincerely for this wonderful opportunity.”

Korda studied composition and conducting at the Ecole Normale de Musique de Paris with maestri Dominique Rouits and Julien Masmondet and composer Regis Campo. She was a guest conductor at Marin Alsop’s Women’s Conducting Masterclass with the Philharmonia at the Queen Elizabeth Hall. She has also participated in numerous international competitions, notably as a finalist in the 2021 International Besançon Competition for Young Conductors.

Garry Walker, Music Director, Opera North added, “Once again we had a high level of interest in the Traineeship, and we’re delighted to welcome Joséphine to the Opera North family. She will enjoy the benefits of observing three operatic productions over the coming weeks, masterclasses with myself, Antony Hermus and other members of our staff, and will gain from a wide range of experience across the Company’s hugely varied work.”