The CBSO today announces the appointment of two new Assistant Conductors. Building on the Orchestra’s rich history of spotting and celebrating new talent and working with the world’s most exciting conductors, the scheme gives the conductors the opportunity to work closely with the world-leading Orchestra across the full range of its activity.

Rita Castro Blanco and Charlotte Corderoy begin their new roles with the CBSO in October and will be assigned to a range of projects over the 23/24 season, from Family Concerts to international tours, World Premiere performances, and everything in between. They will also benefit from meetings and workshops with CBSO musicians, management and stakeholders alongside an open invitation to attend all rehearsals and concerts.

Rita Castro Blanco studied at the Royal Northern College of Music and was Principal Conductor of Huddersfield Philharmonic Orchestra. She has worked with the BBC Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra and Hallé, and her latest engagements include concerts with Lucerne Contemporary Festival Orchestra. Charlotte Corderoy is a graduate of The Royal Academy of Music and the University of Oxford, and has made debuts with the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra and the City of London Sinfonia. She is Musical Director of the Royal Academy of Music’s inaugural Junior Musical Theatre Department and the 2023/24 season will also see her first performances at Glyndebourne and with the Swedish Radio Choir.

The promising young conductors were appointed after an extensive and collaborative process involving Kazuki Yamada, CBSO musicians, and management from an incredibly competitive field of applicants. Each brings valuable experience and fresh perspectives to the music the orchestra is proud to make in Birmingham, across the West Midlands and beyond.

Previous Assistant Conductors of the CBSO include Michael Seal, Alpesh Chauhan, Jonathan Bloxham, Jaume Santonja Espinós, Bertie Baigent and Olivia Clarke.

Kazuki Yamada, Chief Conductor and Artistic Advisor, says: ‘I am so thrilled that Rita and Charlotte will be joining our CBSO family and - like me - will have the incredible experience of learning and growing with the phenomenal musicians of this orchestra. From the audition process I can already see the passion, skill and joy they will bring to their roles as Assistant Conductors and I am really looking forward to working with them over the next 12 months.’