The Glasshouse

Royal Northern Sinfonia, based at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, has welcomed another outstanding conductor into the team.

Ellie Slorach has been appointed to the new role of Associate Conductor, kicking off an exciting new chapter in the orchestra’s work, including concerts aimed at schools and families across Gateshead and the wider North East.

Audiences at The Glasshouse will already know Ellie from her standout performances with Royal Northern Sinfonia. She made her BBC Proms debut at The Glasshouse in July 2024, leading the spectacular Fantasy, Myths and Legends prom alongside BBC Radio1’s film reviewer Ali Plumb.

Ellie also brought the festive magic of The Snowman in Concert to life in 2023 and 2024, and delighted audiences with the heart-warming choral concert Christmas at The Glasshouse hosted by the BBC’s Matt Baker.

Beyond the concert hall, Ellie’s work shows how music can spark joy and creativity – bringing communities and young people together. Partnering with Orchestras Live in Redcar, Ellie led a unique project at Kirkleatham Walled Garden, performing music created by local school pupils.

In her new role, Ellie will continue this inspiring work. Her first project as Associate Conductor is BBC Ten Pieces in Concert with Royal Northern Sinfonia and presenter YolanDa Brown on 4 March 2025. This event invites young people to step into a musical time machine at The Glasshouse, discovering pieces that inspire hope, break boundaries, and make people want to dance.

Later this year, Ellie will lead additional family-friendly events, including several performances of the hit film How to Train Your Dragon on 27 and 28 October with live orchestral music together with the Royal Northern Sinfonia. She will also reprise her conducting roles in Christmas at the Glasshouse on 18 December and The Snowman in Concert from 22 – 24 December.

Ellie joins Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa, Principal Guest Conductor Nil Vendetti and Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska to form an exceptional team of leaders, ensuring The Glasshouse remains a home for world-class music and talent development.

Ellie Slorach said,

“When I first met Royal Northern Sinfonia, I immediately felt a warmth and positive connection. Having since worked with the ensemble on various projects, including the Fantasy, Myths & Legends BBC Prom last summer, I am feeling excited for what the future holds! I love being in The Glasshouse too – it’s an amazing building and the concert hall is outstanding.”

James Thomas, Executive Director of Royal Northern Sinfonia & Classical Music said,

“Ellie brings a wonderful energy to The Glasshouse every time she’s here. Over the last year she’s forged a special connection with our orchestra and with our audiences, leading carol sing-alongs at Christmas and welcoming them to the BBC Proms. We’re excited to work more closely with her over the next three years, expanding our work with schools and young people across the North East, and deepening our commitment to inspiring the next generation of musicians and music lovers.”

Ellie’s appointment comes as The Glasshouse celebrates its 20th anniversary – a chance to reflect on two decades of unforgettable music and look ahead to an exciting future. This year, The Glasshouse is doubling down on its commitment to opening doors for young people and families, ensuring everyone can experience the transformative power of music.

With Ellie’s energy and expertise, Royal Northern Sinfonia is ready to inspire new audiences, nurture the next generation of talent, and keep the North East’s music scene thriving for years to come.

ENDS-

Press enquiries:

Beverley Knight: beverley.knight@theglasshouseicm.org
0191 443 4583

Images:

Credit TyneSight Photographic Services – IMAGE
Credit Tynesight Photographic Services – IMAGE
Credit Mike Plunkett – IMAGE

Listings:

BBC Ten Pieces in Concert
Tuesday 4 March 2025 | 10:30am, 1pm (for music fans from schools)

Marianne von Martinez Overture in C Major
Joseph Haydn Trumpet Concerto, Movement 3
Errollyn Wallen Mighty River
Aaron Copland Hoedown
Lili Boulanger D’un matin de printemps
Margaret Bonds Montgomery Variations: March and Dawn
Laura Shigihara Grasswalk from Plants vs. Zombies
Igor Stravinsky Finale from The Firebird Suite

Ellie Slorach conductor
YolanDa Brown presenter
Royal Northern Sinfonia

How to Train Your Dragon in Concert
Monday 27 October–Tuesday 28 October 2025 | 2:00pm, 6:00pm

How to Train Your Dragon in Concert

© 2010 DreamWorks Animation LLC. All Rights Reserved

Ellie Slorach conductor
Royal Northern Sinfonia

Christmas at The Glasshouse
Wednesday 17 December 2025 | 7:30pm

Festive favourites and carols.

Ellie Slorach conductor
Royal Northern Sinfonia
Chorus of Royal Northern Sinfonia

The Snowman in Concert
Monday 22 December–Wednesday 24 December 2025 | 11:00am, 2:00pm, 5:00pm

Howard Blake The Snowman
© Snowman Enterprises Limited

Ellie Slorach conductor
Royal Northern Sinfonia

About Ellie Slorach

Conductor Ellie Slorach is the Founder and Artistic Director of Kantos Chamber Choir and Engagement Conductor of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra. She specializes in large scale multi-media and educational projects across all genres including orchestras, operatic, choral, and dance performances.

Based in Manchester, she continues a strong presence in the North of England as she begins the 2024/25 season with performances with the Orchestra of Opera North in September in and around Leeds. In October, she revisits the BBC Philharmonic for two separate projects including the launch concert for this year’s BBC 10 Pieces. Throughout December, she returns to the Royal Northern Sinfonia in Gateshead for a run of Christmas concerts with a selection of programmes. She will also be conducting the BBC Concert Orchestra three times during the 24-25 season.

In 2025, she will conduct the Royal Scottish National Orchestra for the first concert performances of Jonathan Dove’s new opera Uprising in Saffron Walden, Glasgow and Edinburgh in collaboration with Glyndebourne. Other orchestral returns include a tour with Royal Scottish National Orchestra, and a live music to film project. She has also received numerous re-invites to appear with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales and Manchester Camerata. In February 2025, Ellie will be returning to Orchestre Philharmonique Royal de Liège, where she held the position of Assistant Conductor in the 2021/22 season, for performances of music by Stéphane Orlando, collaborating with hip-hop and break-dancers from the dance company No Way Back.

Equally at home in the choral repertoire, Ellie will perform with Huddersfield Choral Society – where she holds the position of Associate Choral Director. In November she will be debuting with the Sansara Choir, with whom she will collaborate again in December and in May 2025 she will be leading the Dunedin Consort Choral Weekend. Finishing the season, she will return to Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra in June. Debuts of the season include City of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra, the Sinfonia Smith Square, and the Estonian National Male Choir.

Highlights of previous season included her debut at the BBC Proms at The Glasshouse Gateshead with the Royal Northern Sinfonia as well as debuts with Matthew Bourne’s ballet production of Edward Scissorhands at Sadler’s Wells. Ellie also filmed a multi-media concert with the BBC National Orchestra of Wales, and she was selected to film with the BBC Concert Orchestra and BBC Singers for the new season of the acclaimed BBC 10 Pieces. Previous seasons have also included productions with Northern Opera Group, including Händel’s Silla in 2022, and the world premiere production of Lliam Paterson’s Sherlock Holmes and The Sign of Four at the Leeds Opera Festival in 2024. She was Co-Musical Director for the Royal Opera House’s production of Lost & Found at St Pancras International Station in 2022, and in 2023, she was Assistant Conductor for Opera Holland Park’s production of Verdi’s Rigoletto.

In 2015, Ellie founded Kantos Chamber Choir – a trailblazing vocal ensemble is at the cutting edge of choral singing in the UK. She devises unique, innovative, sell-out performances in venues ranging from concert halls to nightclubs. This season, they will be recording the album In Your Dreams – a collection of pieces related to sleep. Kantos has an artistic partnership with Manchester Camerata. Ellie studied Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and was awarded Associate Membership (ARNCM) in 2023. She previously studied Music at the University of Manchester

Royal Northern Sinfonia
Internationally renowned, calling Gateshead home.

37 musicians at the top of their game. Electrifying music, old and new. All the talent, determination and creativity of the North East on a worldwide stage. From their home at The Glasshouse International Centre for Music, Royal Northern Sinfonia share the joy and wonder of orchestral music with thousands of people across the North of England – and beyond – every year.

From symphonies to string quartets, film soundtracks to choral masses, and original performances with awesome artists from Sheku Kanneh-Mason to Self Esteem, the orchestra’s members have got one of the most varied jobs there is. They’re always looking for fresh new sounds from up-and-coming composers, inviting local communities to share a stage, and doing everything they can to inspire and prepare the musicians of tomorrow to one day take their place.

They’re also working hard to smash the barriers that can stop brilliant people getting into classical music. They’ve teamed up with national partners to support women conductors to develop their careers, to help global majority musicians get vital experience in the orchestra world, and to celebrate disabled and non-disabled musicians breaking new ground together in RNS Moves. And they bring new musical opportunities to the region, headlining the first-ever BBC Proms weekend outside London.

Because they whole-heartedly believe orchestral music is for anyone – big cities and tiny villages, brand-new babies and life-long listeners, die-hard fans and curious minds – they travel far and wide to make sure there’s top-notch classical music on offer for anyone ready to say, “I’ll give that a go”. You’ll find them in churches, castles, and community venues across the North, as well as spearheading concert seasons in Carlisle, Kendal, Middlesbrough, and Sunderland.

With 65 years of success to build on, they’ve signed a dynamic young artistic leadership -Principal Conductor Dinis Sousa, Artistic Partner Maria Włoszczowska and Principal Guest Conductor Nil Venditti – to lead the way into a bold, bright future.

Wherever the orchestra play and whoever they share a stage with, every performance is a chance to see, hear and feel the music.

About The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

The Glasshouse International Centre for Music is a home for live music lovers.

It’s a place where you can hear rock legends or pop icons on the same night as folk trios or string quartets. Where new musicians are nurtured and showcased on the same stages as platinum-selling performers. And where youth choirs and tambourine-shaking toddlers practise in the same spaces as its acclaimed orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Because as an international centre for music they’re focused on creating and celebrating outstanding music – whether that’s unearthing or growing talent from the region or bringing the world’s best artists to their stages. And as a charity they’re focused on making sure all of that is available to anyone – no matter where you’re from, how old you are, how much money you have, or what challenges you face.

Which is why every year more than 2 million people are able to join for top-notch gigs, concerts, and classes – in their venue at Gateshead Quays, out in communities across the North East, and through livestreamed performances and digital lessons.

Whether you’re making it up or taking it in, you’ll find music lives and grows there.

More about The Glasshouse International Centre for Music

• Since opening in 2004, The Glasshouse has hosted over 10,000 performances, welcoming nearly 5 million audience members. It would take more than 27 years to see every show if you attended one every day.
• Over two decades, the charity has delivered around 230,000 music lessons, reaching young people and adults 2.7 million times across its education programmes.
• As its resident orchestra, Royal Northern Sinfonia has toured globally, performing across four continents and livestreaming to audiences across five.
• The Glasshouse has supported the careers of thousands of artists like Ward Thomas who have worked their way from free stages to headline shows in its main hall, achieving national and global recognition.
• Since 2004, The Glasshouse has welcomed over 400,000 delegates for conferences and events, hosting organisations such as Greggs, NHS, and British Engines.
• Over the past two decades, The Glasshouse has generated £500 million in economic impact for the North East.
• The iconic building, designed by Foster + Partners, has 630 panes of glass and stands 40 metres tall. In its opening year, it was exhibited at the Venice Biennale and won the RIBA Inclusive Design Award in 2005.
• Celebrating 20 years – In December 2024, The Glasshouse marked its 20th birthday. Over the next year, the charity will reflect on two decades of achievements and look ahead to its third decade, with major initiatives like the Music Academy and Music Pass for newborns, making music accessible to all.