English National Ballet appoints music director
Florence Lockheart
Wednesday, November 8, 2023
From the 2024-25 season Maria Seletskaja will oversee the music of the English National Ballet and English National Ballet Philharmonic
English National Ballet has announced the appointment of Maria Seletskaja to the role of music director, overseeing the creative direction of the English National Ballet and English National Ballet Philharmonic. Seletskaja succeeds Gavin Sutherland, who continues to work with the company as principal guest conductor.
Seletskaja will conduct performances of Nutcracker and Swan Lake with English National Ballet in January and June 2024 respectively, before taking up her new role at the beginning of the 2024-25 season. She will closely with the company’s artistic director Aaron S. Watkin.
Watkin said: ‘Maria’s innate understanding of the art form gives her a unique perspective which, alongside her energy and intelligence, are a perfect fit for Music Director at English National Ballet. I am excited to work together and look forward to welcoming her to the Company.’
Seletskaja is uniquely suited for her new position as she brings to the role experience as both ballet dancer and conductor. Having studied at Tallinn Ballet School, St Petersburg Vaganova Ballet Academy and Tallinn University, she has been a soloist with Estonian National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Zurich Ballet and the Royal Ballet of Flanders.
Continuing to study piano and violin and alongside her dance career, Seletskaja attended Berklee College of Music in Boston and gained experience as assistant conductor at Stuttgart Ballet. She completed her Masters in orchestral conducting at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre and her most recent conducting engagement was with Paris Opera Ballet.
Maria Seletskaja said: ‘Taking up the position of music director at English National Ballet marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in my professional life, which I am thrilled about. I am looking forward to working alongside English National Ballet’s artistic director, Aaron Watkin, and sharing my love of music with the wonderful musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic, the dancers, and of course, our audiences.’
