Investing in the next generation of choral leaders
Sydney Philharmonia Choirs is committed to nurturing the future of Australian choral music. Our Conducting Fellows scheme offers emerging conductors the rare opportunity to work as part of the nation’s premier choral organisation, gaining deep practical experience, expert mentorship, and meaningful performance opportunities.
These Fellowships offer two aspiring conductors each year the opportunity to immerse themselves in choral/orchestral repertoire for 12 months, mentored by our amazing Music Staff, Artistic & Music Director Brett Weymark OAM, Associate Music Director Dr Elizabeth Scott, and Assistant Chorus Master and Principal Repetiteur Tim Cunniffe.
They learn to lead rehearsals and prepare scores, and work towards the opportunity to conduct our ensembles in performance, even at the iconic Sydney Opera House! They each receive a bursary to allow them the space to truly engage with the program, and enable them to get the most out of this valuable experience.
“I am thrilled to have the opportunity to be part of such a generous music team in an organisation that produces an unbelievably huge variety of high-quality performances every year. Every week is different, and the experience combines learning and fun in equal measure.”
~ Naomi Hnat, Conducting Fellow 2026
2026 Conducting Fellows
Naomi Hnat
Among the many opportunities offered by the Conducting Fellowship, Naomi recently served as offstage chorus conductor for Holst’s The Planets in the Sydney Symphony Orchestra’s Symphonic Cinema: The Planets performances. She is also a participant of the Australian Conducting Academy.
Prior to relocating to Sydney in January, Naomi enjoyed a diverse career spanning both choral and orchestral fields, including as Director of the Christchurch Youth Orchestra in 2025 and as a New Zealand Symphony Orchestra Conducting Fellow in 2025 and 2023. Her 2025 conducting engagements included the NZSO’s Open Doors concerts in Wellington and Stravinsky’s Octet for Wind with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra, where she also served as Assistant Chorus Director for Beethoven’s Symphony No. 9. Additionally, Naomi directed secondary school choirs for seven years, consistently achieving national recognition at The Big Sing Finale.
In 2024, Naomi completed her Master of Music (First Class), specialising in symphonic choral repertoire, with Simon Halsey CBE at the University of Birmingham. Prior to this, she undertook postgraduate conducting studies with Dr. Karen Grylls CNZM at the University of Auckland.
An accomplished instrumentalist, Naomi was a cellist with the Christchurch Symphony Orchestra for 15 years, including several months as Acting Principal Cello in 2025.
“It has been a truly special experience learning from some of Australia’s finest choral conductors. I’m incredibly grateful to work alongside such passionate musicians who continually strive for the highest standards of music-making.”
~ Benjamin Crowe, Conducting Fellow 2026
Benjamin Crowe
Praised for his “intelligent, agile gesturing” (Sydney Arts Guide), Benjamin Crowe is an Australian conductor whose work spans choral, orchestral, and operatic repertoire. Alongside his Conducting Fellowship with Sydney Philharmonia Choirs, he is Founder and Artistic Director of Sydney Harbour Ensemble, and Choral Director of Sydney University Musical Society Choir.
Highlights of Benjamin’s 2026 season with Sydney Harbour Ensemble include symphonies by Beethoven and Schumann, Strauss waltzes, and concertos with Anna da Silva Chen and Joshua Han. His guest conducting engagements include appearances with Auralis Ensemble, Holway Collective, Steel City Strings and the Sydney Conservatorium of Music Bach Festival. In 2026, Benjamin was awarded the Sydney Symposium Choral Foundation Conducting Scholarship and the George and Margaret Henderson Travellers Scholarship.
Benjamin was an active participant in the Järvi Conducting Academy in Estonia, where his mentors included Neeme Järvi, Paavo Järvi and Leonid Grin. He also attended the Vienna Opera Academy as Assistant Conductor under Dominic Wheeler and Toby Purser, and is a regular conducting assistant to Fabian Russell.
Benjamin is currently studying piano with Paul Rickard-Ford at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music. He performs with Willoughby Symphony Orchestra regularly as a keyboardist, and he recently performed Finzi’s Eclogue for Piano and Strings under the baton of Tim Doubinski.
“I could never have imagined how generous SPC would be in allowing the conducting fellows to experience such a wide variety of “conductor jobs”, and I truly feel like I am learning so much.”
~ Ezra Hersch, Conducting Fellow 2025
2025 Conducting Fellows
Michael Bradshaw
Ezra Hersch
The 2026 Conducting fellows will be announced in January 2026, and details of how to apply for the 2027 Conducting fellowships will be available in the second half of 2026.
Support the Fellows
This Conducting Fellowship program takes investment, but it is one we are happy to make as we see what it means to our Fellowship recipients, as we watch them venture out more confident in their ability, and more dedicated in their desire to bring the joy of choral music to even more people.
We are incredibly grateful to the very generous sponsors who have enabled us to build this program. If you would like to join them, and be recognised on our website, our Season Brochure and in our concert programs, please consider making a donation through the portal below. It is quick, secure and we would appreciate a donation of any size to help continue this important initiative!
“It’s been so valuable to learn from outstanding conductors, explore unique repertoire, and be part of such a warm and supportive community.”
~ Michael Bradshaw, Conducting Fellow 2025
