Royal College of Music Announces New Appointments for Martyn Brabbins, Speranza Scappucci , & Vasily Petrenko

(Photo credits: Ealovega, Ehm)

The Royal College of Music has announced new appointment for conductors Martyn Brabbins ,Vasily Petrenko, and Speranza Scappucci.

Following a five-year term as Prince Consort Professor, Martyn Brabbins will join the Royal College of Music as a professor of conducting. In this position, Brabbins will work with conducting students several times each term as well as leading at least one performance project each year.  In addition, Speranza Scappucci and Vasily Petrenko will join the Royal College of Music in Sept. as International Visiting Artists.

Scappucci will join on a three-year term, visiting twice a year to teach conducting and will conduct the school’s symphony in at least one programme during her term.  Scappucci made history as the first Italian woman to conduct at Teatro alla Scala in Milan. In 2025, she was name Principal Conductor at Covent Garden Royal Ballet and Opera House.

Petrenko is schedule for a four-year term. He will visiting three times a year to teach and once a year to conduct the symphony orchestra. He is the current Music Director of the Royal Philharmonic Orchestra. Petrenko became Conductor Laureate of the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra following his acclaimed fifteen-year tenure as their Chief Conductor.

The Royal College of Music’s Artistic Director Andrew Moore said in a press release, “I am delighted that Vasily Petrenko and Speranza Scappucci have agreed to join our Conducting Faculty and am equally pleased that Martyn Brabbins will deepen his involvement by taking on the role of professor of conducting. All three have led inspirational masterclasses in recent months and the experience they bring working with some of the finest orchestras and opera companies around the world has proved invaluable both to our Conducting students and to instrumentalists, singers and composers across the College.”