Northern Ballet Announces William Lai as Conductor Fellow, Supported by Jerwood Foundation

Have you ever been to the ballet and felt that buzz when the orchestra starts up? It’s a proper spine-tingling moment. The person making all that magic happen, waving the little stick at the front, is the conductor. They’re the bridge between the musicians and the dancers, making sure every note lands at the exact moment a dancer leaps or spins. It’s a seriously tricky job. And there's some exciting news on that front from right here in Yorkshire. The fantastic Northern Ballet, based in Leeds, has just announced who will be taking on a very special role for their next big show. A massively talented conductor named William Lai is joining the team as the first-ever Conductor Fellow, with big support from the Jerwood Foundation. This is a brilliant step for the future of ballet and for nurturing new talent.

Photo by Wojciech Mateusiak

A big welcome to William Lai

So, who is William Lai? Well, he’s a bit of a big deal in the conducting world. Originally from Hong Kong, he’s already the Principal Conductor of the Gramophone Orchestra there. But his talent has taken him all over the globe. He’s won awards and been a finalist in some of the most prestigious competitions you can imagine. Think of it like the Olympics for conductors. He won the Orchestra Prize at the 5th International Conducting Competition in Spain and was a finalist in Germany’s top-tier Forum Dirigieren programme. He was also a semi-finalist at the seriously tough 11th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Competition for Conductors in Poland. This isn't just a job for him; conducting is something he is clearly exceptional at, and he has the accolades to prove it. This experience in high-pressure conducting situations is perfect for the world of live ballet performances.

What exactly is a conductor fellow?

It sounds fancy, doesn't it? A Conductor Fellow isn't just a regular job; it’s a special opportunity to learn and grow. Think of it as a super-advanced apprenticeship. From February to September 2026, William Lai will get hands-on training and mentorship from some of the best in the business. He’ll be working directly with Northern Ballet’s Associate Conductor, Daniel Parkinson, and its Artistic Director, Federico Bonelli. The whole point is to develop the unique skills needed for conducting a ballet. It’s a very different game from conducting a symphony orchestra for a concert. For ballet, the conductor has to be in perfect sync with the dancers on stage. They have to breathe with them, feel their rhythm, and adjust the music's speed in a split second if a dancer is slightly faster or slower. This fellowship, which gives rising stars a chance to master this specialism, is supported by the Jerwood Foundation, a charity famous across the UK for backing emerging talent in the arts.

All about the ballet: Gentleman Jack

This whole fellowship is built around Northern Ballet's next massive production: Gentleman Jack. If that name rings a bell, it should! The ballet tells the story of Anne Lister, the phenomenal 19th-century Yorkshire landowner, diarist, and adventurer. She was a true icon and a trailblazer, and her story is being brought to the stage by a world-class creative team. The choreography is by the amazing Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, with a brand-new musical score written by composer Peter Salem. The show will have its grand premiere in Leeds in the spring of 2026 before it tours all over the UK. William Lai will be taking to the podium to conduct the orchestra for live performances of this exciting new ballet, bringing Peter Salem’s score to life each night. It's a fantastic opportunity to be part of creating something brand new, especially a story so deeply rooted in Yorkshire's history.

Words from the team

Everyone at Northern Ballet is clearly thrilled about this new chapter. It’s a huge moment for the company and for the future of conducting for ballet. But you don’t have to take our word for it. Here’s what the mentors had to say.

Daniel Parkinson, Northern Ballet’s Associate Conductor, shared his excitement:

“I’m delighted that after a competitive audition process, William Lai has been selected as Northern Ballet’s first Conducting Fellow. This scheme marks an exciting step in Northern Ballet's continued commitment to nurturing emerging artistic talent. I look forward to supporting and mentoring William as we produce our next full-length ballet, Gentleman Jack."

The man himself, William Lai, is just as enthusiastic about the opportunity to work on Gentleman Jack:

"I’m genuinely excited to join Northern Ballet for the creation of Gentleman Jack. I’ve always felt a deep pull towards ballet conducting - the extraordinary energy of the dancers and musicians pushes the music to flourish in ways only this art form allows. I believe Gentleman Jack has the potential to become a defining classic for Northern Ballet, and I’m proud to help shape Peter Salem’s musical world for the story. Working alongside Daniel Parkinson and Federico Bonelli on a production of this scale is exceptional and I hope our audiences will feel the same spark that drives us: to create something truly extraordinary.” 

Why this matters for the arts in the UK

This fellowship is more than just one person getting a great job. It’s about investing in the future of live performance. The support from the Jerwood Foundation is a massive part of this. The charity was established back in 1977 by Alan Grieve and has since given over £113 million to the arts in the UK. They are all about supporting excellence and giving emerging talent a platform to shine. They also run Jerwood Space in London, a dedicated place where theatre, dance, and opera companies can rehearse and create new work. By funding this Conductor Fellow position, they are ensuring that the highly specialised skill of conducting for ballet and opera continues to thrive. It means that in years to come, audiences will continue to experience the incredible magic of a live orchestra playing in perfect harmony with dancers on stage, all thanks to brilliant initiatives that support the next generation of artists like William Lai.