Hannah Thomson – Conducting Scholar 2025/6

Each year we aim to help young musicians by providing conducting or singing scholarships. Hannah Thomson joined us for the 2025/6 season as Conducting Scholar. She was thrilled to have the opportunity to develop her skills under the expert guidance of Alex Kyle, and to work with a supportive and enthusiastic group of singers and musicians.

Hannah assisted with weekly rehearsals and concerts throughout the season, developing her her conducting skills by taking responsibility for leading sections of the rehearsal each week. She eventually took full responsibility for two performances of “The Cantique de Jean Racine” in Ilkley, conducting over 120 voices. When not conducting, Hannah also sang soprano with the choir and has performed as a soloist in some of our concerts.

Hannah studied Music and completed her PGCE at Durham University and is currently teaching at Lindley Junior School. She is an alumna of the Opera North Youth Chorus and performed various principal roles with Durham Opera Ensemble and Leeds Youth Opera. In more recent years, Hannah has performed with Wakefield Youth Theatre, Diva Productions, and Harrogate Phoenix Players.

Hannah has also enjoyed being on a number of creative teams – she was Producer for The Enchanted Pig (Leeds Youth Opera) and is the current Musical Director of the award-winning Lindley Junior School Choir. Hannah also successfully took on the role of Musical Director for Harrogate Operatic Society’s centenary concert, as well as Rabbit Head Productions’ workshop performance of ‘Arabella and Other Stories’.