Apprentices Programme

2025/26 Monteverdi Appentices Programme

Now in its 18^th year, the Monteverdi Apprentices Programme bridges the gap between formal education and a professional freelance music career, providing a comprehensive platform for emerging artists to thrive under the guidance of some of the most respected musicians in the field. Following a record number of applications, we can now unveil nine exceptional young singers for the 2025/26 season.

Milly Atkinson - soprano
Áine Smith - soprano
Lowri Bufton - mezzo-soprano
Elizabeth Nurse - mezzo-soprano
Emma van der Scheer - mezzo-soprano
Matthew Monaghan - countertenor
Sam Madden - tenor
Allyn Wu - baritone
Will Harmer - bass-baritone

Internationally acclaimed soloists Dame Sarah Connolly and Mark Padmore have become Ambassadors for the Monteverdi Apprentices Programme. Both Sarah and Mark have a long association with the Monteverdi Choir and have often joined the line-up in performances and recordings. Each shares the Monteverdi Choir’s deep commitment to nurturing the next generation of vocal talent. Each brings a wealth of experience, a passion for ensemble singing and a profound understanding of vocal artistry, stylistic versatility and the demands of a modern singing career. As inspirational role models and experienced mentors, they will offer invaluable guidance to the Apprentices, drawing on their wide-ranging professional insight.

The 2025/26 programme is now in full swing, with Apprentices joining in recent MCO performances of Mozart's Requiem with Pablo Heras-Casado at St Martin-in-the-Fields, and Rossini with Jakob Lehmann at Cadogan Hall. Lehmann also led the Apprentices for a masterclass on Italian song, joined by language coach Pepi Ferrari. They also took part in another workshop led by Richard Stokes, Professor of Lieder at the Royal Academy of Music.

The Apprentices started work together, under the direction of Choir Director Jonathan Sells, during a 3-day residency at Grittleton House, Wiltshire at the beginning of September. They were joined by some of the programme’s mentors, as well as Mark Padmore, who led a workshop on Bach. The programme is due to feature more coaching, workshops and masterclasses over the coming months, and will culminate in a final recital featuring repertoire they have worked on over the course of the year.

Monteverdi Appentices Programme - Background

By crafting supportive learning environments for talented young artists, whilst providing challenging and rewarding performance opportunities and exposing them to coaching from experts in a range of fields, the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras aims to nurture the next generation of musical talent.

Participants in this long-established artist development programme take part in projects ranging from workshops and masterclasses with a focus on historically-inspired performance practices with industry-leading professionals, to paid performances with the Monteverdi ensembles. Each Apprentice is matched to an experienced member of MCO, who acts as a mentor, offering tailored artistic and practical support throughout their Apprenticeship, providing invaluable holistic advice, guiding them through the practicalities of preparing for projects, and helping the Apprentices to adjust and integrate into the wider ensemble whilst still encouraging personal development.

The Monteverdi Apprentices are also given the opportunity to perform with our world-class ensembles, and join the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras for concerts both in the UK and overseas. Our aim is to round out their musical education, to help prepare them for future challenges, and to allow them to gain unrivalled experience of the working practices of an internationally renowned ensemble in a safe and supportive environment. By the end of each year-long Programme, we expect to have equipped these young musicians with the skills to be able to work as professionals with the Monteverdi Choir and Orchestras, and other similar organisations worldwide. The Programme has over 90 alumni, and many prior Apprentices still perform regularly with the Monteverdi ensembles.

Monteverdi Apprentice Programme continues to have a deep impact upon the development of all these young musicians, past and present: extending their musical horizons and broadening their career aspirations. It is difficult to exaggerate the benefits the programme offers in terms of its varied opportunities, enabling the Apprentices to work closely with musicians of the highest calibre and under the direction of the finest conductors and interpreters of classical music. While this pioneering initiative has been imitated and augmented by other European ensembles it remains pre-eminent in its field and is heavily oversubscribed.

By supporting the Monteverdi Choir & Orchestras, you are supporting our Apprentices.

Our family of members, donors and benefactors help enable the ambitious, ground-breaking core artistic projects in which our Apprentices take part.

For general enquiries and to discuss how you can support the Monteverdi Apprentices Programme please contact development@monteverdi.org.uk