Biography
Riley Court-Wood is the most recent graduate (2023-2025) of the Leverhulme Conducting Fellowship at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland.
During his appointment, he assisted and conducted the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, as well as Scottish Opera and the Hebrides ensemble. At the RCS, Riley conducted the Scottish premiere of Haydn’s rarely performed opera, ‘L’infedelta delusa’, in 2025.
His assistantships have included working with Sir Donald Runnicles, Ryan Wigglesworth, Ilan Volkov, Gemma New and Martyn Brabbins.
In October 2024 he was awarded the 2nd prize and audience prize at the Tokyo Conducting Competition. He was re-invited to Japan in July 2025 to conduct the NHK Symphony Orchestra.
Upcoming projects include his debut with the Deutsches Symphonie-Orchester Berlin in 2026.
Riley worked as a freelance violinist in London following his studies at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama, before commencing his post graduate degree in conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music in 2019.
After graduating from the RNCM in 2021, Riley was engaged as resident conductor for the Muscat Royal Philharmonic Orchestra in Oman.
Riley is represented by Keynote Artist Management.
‘Following an intense and rewarding two-day audition process, involving ten highly talented young conductors, Riley Court-Wood emerged as the next Leverhulme RCS Conducting Fellow. His gracious music-making, warm personality and adaptability set him apart from the other candidates.’ – Martyn Brabbins
