Becoming a leader in music | Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music in London

Kia ora!

My name is Luka — I'm a conductor/composer from Te Whanganui-ā-Tara and I've been offered the life-changing opportunity to study at the Royal Academy of Music as one of only a handful of conductors selected for its world-leading postgraduate conducting programme.

I'm only the second Kiwi ever admitted, and across the two years of my studies, I'll have the immense privilege studying with Sian Edwards — one of the world's leading pedagogues of conducting and a former Music Director of the English National Opera.

In my 2 years at RAM, I'll hone my craft conducting opera, symphonic music, new music and more, and learn from the world's best conductors who regularly visit the department.

Upon graduating, I'll join an incredible list of alumni that includes some of the world's leading musicians, including Sir Simon Rattle and Susanna Mälkki — two idols of mine who, since their studies at the Academy, have risen to the highest possible levels.

So far I've been thrilled to have received the CNZ/Jack McGill Scholarship and generous support from the Todd Trust, Lankhuyzen/Whetū-Kairangi Masonic Trust and others, but this training comes at a huge cost, with my fees alone totalling £30,250 per year as an international student.

These studies will open so many doors and help me on my path of becoming a future leader in music, both internationally and in Aotearoa — but to get there, I need the best training I can get, and with your support, I can get there and become the best I can!