Jerwood Foundation supports the Conducting Fellowship at Northern Ballet

Jerwood Foundation has awarded Northern Ballet a grant of £16,000 to support their Conducting Fellowship. Founded in 1969 Northern Ballet has grown to now be the UK’s widest touring classical ballet company.

Conducting for dance is a highly specialised skill and Northern Ballet is one of only a few organisations that offer experience and mentorship in this area for emerging conductors. The Fellow will develop the skills, insight, and confidence required for a future career in conducting for ballet.

Northern Ballet is thrilled to welcome William Lai to this role which will see him receive mentorship and training and conduct performances of Gentleman Jack across the UK. William will rehearse, tour, and conduct live performances as part of Northern Ballet’s artistic team working under the mentorship of Associate Conductor, Daniel Parkinson.

Lara Wardle Executive Director and Trustee Jerwood Foundation said:

Embarking on this new partnership underlines Jerwood’s commitment to supporting excellence and emerging talent in the arts in the UK. I am delighted that this grant of £16,000 will launch the Conducting Fellowship at Northern Ballet and offer William Lai a valuable opportunity to develop the skills needed to forge a career in the specialised discipline of conducting for ballet.

Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director, Northern Ballet said:

With the generous support of Jerwood Foundation, we have created a bespoke mentoring opportunity, supporting a talented emerging conductor to develop the skills, insight, and confidence required for a career in conducting for dance. The Conducting Fellowship is part of Northern Ballet's commitment to creating a pipeline of new creative talent in the North of England.

With choreography by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and a new score by Peter Salem, Gentleman Jack will premiere in spring 2026, in Leeds, before being performed across the UK. Continuing Northern Ballet’s masterful canon of creating stories that connect, the ballet will bring to the stage the life of the 19th century icon, Anne Lister.

For further information please visit Northern Ballet

January 28, 2026

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Jerwood Foundation supports the Conducting Fellowship at Northern Ballet

Jerwood Foundation has awarded Northern Ballet a grant of £16,000 to support their Conducting Fellowship. Founded in 1969 Northern Ballet has grown to now be the UK’s widest touring classical ballet company.

Conducting for dance is a highly specialised skill and Northern Ballet is one of only a few organisations that offer experience and mentorship in this area for emerging conductors. The Fellow will develop the skills, insight, and confidence required for a future career in conducting for ballet.

Lara Wardle Executive Director and Trustee Jerwood Foundation said:

Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director, Northern Ballet said:

For further information please visit Northern Ballet

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Jerwood Foundation supports the Conducting Fellowship at Northern Ballet

Jerwood Foundation has awarded Northern Ballet a grant of £16,000 to support their Conducting Fellowship. Founded in 1969 Northern Ballet has grown to now be the UK’s widest touring classical ballet company.

Conducting for dance is a highly specialised skill and Northern Ballet is one of only a few organisations that offer experience and mentorship in this area for emerging conductors. The Fellow will develop the skills, insight, and confidence required for a future career in conducting for ballet.

Lara Wardle Executive Director and Trustee Jerwood Foundation said:

Federico Bonelli, Artistic Director, Northern Ballet said:

For further information please visit Northern Ballet

Conducting for dance is a highly specialised skill and Northern Ballet is one of only a few organisations that offer experience and mentorship in this area for emerging conductors. The Fellow will develop the skills, insight, and confidence required for a future career in conducting for ballet.