E&E Newsletter: April 2026
New mini course launched, festival performance slots and ops, professional bodies membership funding, and latest local vacancies.
Welcome to your April update from the Employability & Enterprise (E&E) Team.
New Mini Course Launch
How to Start a Project or Business
Turn your ideas for a creative project into a clear, structured artist or business plan, and build a strong foundation in preparation for funding applications.
This course is only available to current students and alumni.
Festival Opportunities
Summer 2026
We’re pleased to be partnering with two leading festivals this year, Deer Shed and We Out Here. The festivals are offering performance slots and valuable industry experience. Applications deadline for all festival ops is 27th April 2026.
Click the thumbnails below for more information and application forms.
- Deer Shed Festival 2026: Performance and Placement Ops
Leeds Conservatoire is partnering with Deer Shed to provide two paid work opportunities, and two performance slots. - We Out Here Festival 2026: Performance and Work Placement Ops
Leeds Conservatoire is partnering with We Out Here to provide voluntary work opportunities and four performance slots for Leeds Conservatoire bands.
Funding Opportunities
PRS for Music, Ivors Academy, and Spotlight Fund
We understand that some of the most valuable services and memberships within music and the performing arts can also be expensive and inaccessible.
To support access, Employability & Enterprise offers funding towards:
- Lifetime membership with PRS for Music (as a writer/composer)
- Early Career or Standard Membership with the Ivors Academy
- Your first graduate year of Spotlight
This fund is designed to help you take practical next steps in your professional development and gain access to key industry platforms.
If you have any questions about any of the above opportunities, please contact the Employability & Enterprise team.
More opportunities, funding, and support will be shared in next month’s newsletter.
Current Job Opportunities
Here are a selection of current music and drama opportunities in Yorkshire.
Assistant Director – Leeds Playhouse
- Role: Assistant Director (Brassed Off)
- Location: Leeds
- Deadline: 10am, 14th April 2026
Opportunity to support a major in-house production, working closely with the director and creative team on rehearsals and delivery.
Senior Leadership & Performer Roles – Opera North
- Roles:
- Senior leadership role (full-time)
- Bass Chorister (performing role)
- Location: Leeds (touring involved)
- Deadline:
- Leadership role 7th April 2026
Senior role involves strategic oversight across productions and teams.
Chorister role is a professional performing opportunity within a major UK opera company.
Participatory Artist Traineeships – MAYA Productions
- Role: Participatory Artist Trainee (music, dance, interdisciplinary)
- Location: South Yorkshire
- Deadline: 9am, 13th April 2026
- Details:
- 3-month paid development opportunity
- Focus on creative health, community practice, and workshop facilitation
- Open to early-career artists, particularly those from global majority backgrounds
Teacher of Music & Drama (Secondary)
- Organisation: Allerton Grange School
- Role: Teacher of Music & Drama (full-time)
- Location: Leeds
- Start: 1st September 2026
- Deadline: 19th April 2026
- Details:
- Teaching role in a secondary school in Leeds.
Technician – Drama & Music
- Organisation: King Edward VII School, Sheffield (via Music Industry Yorkshire listings)
- Location: Sheffield
- Deadline: 13th April 2026
- Details:
- Part-time technician role supporting both drama and music activity in an educational setting. (Music Industry Yorkshire)
Get In Touch
One-to-one support is available every Wednesday. These sessions are open to all students and graduates; whether you are applying for funding or simply exploring ideas.
Book via this link
Email: eae@leedsconservatoire.ac.uk
Room 401
Best,
James, Lauren, Mark & Elysha
The Employability & Enterprise Team
Room 401
EaE@lcm.ac.uk
Current Vacancies
- Assistant Director – Leeds Playhouse
- Senior Leadership & Performer Roles – Opera North
- Participatory Artist Traineeships – MAYA Productions
- Teacher of Music & Drama (Secondary)
- Technician – Music & Drama (Sheffield)
We will ensure to update this with opportunities we see relevant, as often as possible. If you don’t see an opportunity that suits you, contact EaE@lcm.ac.uk to explore other ways we can support you.
Callouts & Opportunities
Not seeing something that takes your interest? Check out our Performance and Industry Opportunities page for other initiatives that you can get involved with!