Royal Opera House Orchestra Launches Overture Mentorship for Young Musicians

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The initiative runs in collaboration with Black Lives in Music and the National Open Youth Orchestra.

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The Royal Ballet and Opera has opened applications for its year-long Overture mentorship programme, investing in the next generation of orchestral musicians. Overture is part of our commitment to offer resources, training and professional development opportunities to boost specialist skills amongst young people.

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Established in 2023 by the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House, in collaboration with Black Lives in Music and the National Open Youth Orchestra, Overture aims to remove barriers to the orchestral sector for young musicians (aged 18-25) from under-represented groups by providing tailored opportunities and mentoring.

Previous cohort participants have gone on to postgraduate study at music college as well as trials or freelance work with professional orchestras, including with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House.

Jane Parks, 2025-26 cohort violinist said, “After experiencing the Royal Ballet and Opera's Overture to the fullest, all I can say is that it is far more than I ever imagined. It has taught me huge heights of professional musician training, the absolute importance of teamwork behind the scenes, and experiences I now have the opportunity to look forward to in the future! The RBO does more than welcome new mentees. It is a place to call home, a place for learning and growth, and a space for many new perspectives and connections. Always be confident and take a chance. Then you shall see what awaits you!”

Each Season, musicians are partnered with a member of the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House in Covent Garden, London, and receive various opportunities across both ballet and opera that includes playing alongside members of the Orchestra in side-by-side rehearsals, six lessons from their mentor, audition preparation, access to watch rehearsals, pastoral support from Black Lives in Music and the National Open Youth Orchestra, and more.

Applications are open to those who identify as being from an underrepresented group, including (but not limited to), global majority, Disabled, LGBTQ+, and from a low-socio economic background, and play one of the offered instruments. The full list can be found below and on the website.

At least one of the side-by-side rehearsal sessions is conducted by either the Music Director of The Royal Opera Jakub Hrůša or Music Director of The Royal Ballet Koen Kessels, giving the cohort exposure to high profile conductors working on the international scene.

Jakub Hrůša, Music Director of The Royal Opera said, “Our session in April brought together the Royal Opera House Orchestra and young musicians in our Overture programme to explore Britten's Peter Grimes from both symphonic and operatic perspectives. We focused on the orchestra's role as both protagonist and collaborator, working on instrumental interludes as well as scenes with singers to understand the delicate balance between leadership and flexibility in the pit. More broadly, Overture is so important because it creates a space for genuine exchange: young musicians gain first-hand experience of the artistry, discipline and collaboration required in opera, while the orchestra itself is reinvigorated by their energy, curiosity and fresh perspective. That sense of mutual inspiration and shared discovery is at the heart of the programme.”

Koen Kessels, Music Director of The Royal Ballet said, “It's truly wonderful to bring together young musicians with the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House to make music. Exploring ballet and opera repertoire in this way – and working with exceptional dancers from The Royal Ballet – is an exciting and inspirational opportunity for everyone involved. Our mentees really learn the importance of connecting with other musicians in the Orchestra, the conductor and the dancers on stage, as they experience what makes the Orchestra of the Royal Opera House unique. In addition, the members of the orchestra, ballet dancers and everyone involved relish the opportunity to come together, sharing their experience and creating this wonderful artform. I'm excited to work with our next cohort of young musicians on Overture in 2026-27, and beyond.”

The deadline for an expression of interest is 22 June and audition video and personal statement, 6 July.

Roger Wilson , Co-Founder, Black Lives in Music said, “It's brilliant to see Overture go from strength to strength with each iteration of the programme. I'm excited at the prospect of the next cohort of young musicians reaping the rewards of this world class mentoring programme. It's a real testimony to the commitment and dedication of the orchestral team and staff at the RBO - Black Lives in Music are extremely proud of this partnership. This opportunity provides a unique insight through hands-on activity for Overture musicians and highlights the power of partnership and collaboration. It's proven itself to be a genuinely game changing experience for so many of the musicians previously involved. Overture is an essential driver for change in classical music. It's sector leading in terms of the programme's impact and legacy, I'm really excited for the next cohort who will be involved.”

Bea Hubble, Programme Manager, The National Open Youth Orchestra said, “It has been a delight to see and hear National Open Youth Orchestra musicians flourish throughout their involvement in the Royal Ballet and Opera's Overture programme. It has given them a depth of orchestral experience from repertoire to rehearsals that they will carry with them for the rest of their musical careers. The National Open Youth Orchestra is delighted to be in partnership with the Royal Ballet and Opera's Overture programme as a clear pathway for the development of talented young disabled musicians.”

For more information and to apply, visit rbo.org.uk

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_Originally reported by [BroadwayWorld](https://www.broadwayworld.com/westend/article/Royal-Opera-House-Orchestra-to-Launch-Overture-Mentorship-Programme-for-Young-Musicians-20260609)._