English National Opera (ENO) today celebrates the centenary of the birth of Sir Charles Mackerras by opening applications for the next ENO Mackerras Fellowship – the first to take place under the company’s new Music Director Designate, André de Ridder.
ENO has launched an international search for an outstanding emerging conductor to join the company as the next Mackerras Fellow. The two-year Fellowship offers the successful candidate the chance to work closely with the ENO, gaining hands-on experience across rehearsals, productions and performances at the London Coliseum and Greater Manchester.
Established in honour of Sir Charles Mackerras’s remarkable legacy, the Fellowship has become a cornerstone of ENO’s artist development work, supporting and inspiring a new generation of conductors. To date, six Mackerras Fellows have been appointed, including Olivia Clarke, Matthew Kofi Waldren, Fergus Macleod, Gergely Madaras, Valentina Peleggi and Toby Purser, many of whom have gone on to establish significant international careers.
Sir Charles Mackerras’s pioneering work and his deep association with ENO – where he served as Music Director from 1970 to 1977 – helped define the opera company’s reputation for musical excellence and innovation. He is renowned for conducting Gilbert & Sullivan operas and for introducing the music of Leoš Janáček to international audiences, two strands which remain central to ENO’s repertoire.
As ENO marks 100 years since his birth, this new Fellowship opening continues a commitment to nurturing the next generation of operatic talent.
André de Ridder, Music Director Designate, English National Opera, said: “Sir Charles Mackerras remains one of the great figures in ENO’s history, and it’s an honour to continue his legacy by launching the first Mackerras Fellowship of my tenure. I had the privilege of meeting Sir Charles during my studies at the Royal Academy of Music where he gave masterclasses which had quite an impact on my own practice and thinking in music, and as a conductor.
“Through an international search, we look forward to discovering an exceptional emerging conductor who will work alongside me and grow and learn at the level of artistic excellence required for this extraordinary opera company.”
Jenny Mollica, CEO, English National Opera, said: “The Mackerras Fellowship is a vital part of ENO’s commitment to talent development and to the future of opera as a vibrant and daring artform. As we celebrate Sir Charles’s centenary, we’re proud to honour his spirit of mentorship and excellence through this opportunity for the next generation of conductors.”
Applications for the Mackerras Fellowship (2026–2028) open today and close on Monday 20 January 2026. Full details and application guidelines are available at Careers – ENO.
