BSO has announced Michal Oren as Calleva Assistant Conductor for the 2026/27 season, a role which offers rising conductors invaluable opportunities at the early stages of their careers. Over the next year, Michal will conduct performances, work closely with the Orchestra’s Chief Conductor and members of the artistic team and receive mentoring from BSO’s guest conductors and musicians.

Michal Oren studied for her Professional Diploma in Conducting at the Academy, graduating in 2025. Michal participated in the RPS Women Conductors’ Programme, was a Female Conductor Trainee at Opera North and recently joined the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship Mentoring Programme. She was announced as a Classic FM Rising Star for 2026 and as a semi-finalist in the upcoming 80th Concours de Genève Conducting Competition. Michal founded a museum chamber orchestra with the Petah Tikva Museum of Contemporary Art in Israel that perform repertoire inspired by visual art.

“I’m looking forward to joining the Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra as Calleva Assistant Conductor. As a young conductor you need time on the podium to grow, and I am deeply grateful to have this opportunity with the BSO. This week has marked my first time in the region; everyone has been so welcoming and I’m excited to get to know the musicians and audiences over the coming months ahead.”

Michal Oren

Fellow Academy alum Enyi Okpara passes the baton to Michal. After completing the year-long programme at BSO, Enyi was appointed as Fellow Conductor of the LPO for the 2026/27 Season.

Artistic Director and Founder of Elysium Music, Enyi was named a Classic FM Rising Star in 2025. The 2025/26 season has seen Enyi’s Royal Albert Hall debut for Classic FM’s 25th anniversary concert, and debuts with major orchestras across the UK, including Ulster Orchestra, Manchester Camerata, Britten Sinfonia and London Symphony Orchestra.

LPO’s Conducting Fellowship was created to support the development of outstanding early-career conductors from backgrounds currently under-represented in the profession. Enyi will work closely with the orchestra over a period of 6-8 weeks each season, guided by Principal Conductor Edward Gardner, also an Academy alum.

The Academy offers congratulations to Michal and Enyi and wishes them luck as they take to the podium in the next steps of their careers.