James Hendry

Honorary Associate Artist, Royal Northern College of Music

James Hendry stands at the forefront of young British conductors.

Most recently First Kapellmeister at Staatsoper Hannover, the 2024/25 season sees him conduct Verdi’s Don Carlo for the Finnish National Opera and Ballet, Mozart’s Le nozze di Figaro at the Royal Swedish Opera, and Puccini’s Tosca in a return to Staatsoper Hannover, among others.

In previous seasons, Hendry has worked at Opéra National de Lyon (Offenbach’s Barbe-Bleue), and on numerous productions at Royal Opera House Covent Garden, including Oreste, Der Rosenkavalier, Adriana Lecouvreur, Hänsel und Gretel and Turandot. Other engagements include English National Opera (Lucia di Lammermoor), Oper Frankfurt (Don Giovanni), Luzerner Theater (Revue des Follies) and Opera North (The Marriage of Figaro). A keen symphonic conductor, recent seasons feature the George Enescu Philharmonic Orchestra, Orchester der Tiroler Festspiele Erl, Southbank Sinfonia, the Orchestra of Opera North and the Niedersächsisches Jugendsinfonieorchester. He is a former member of Royal Opera House Covent Garden’s prestigious Jette Parker Young Artists Programme, and an Associate Member of the Royal Northern College of Music.

Hendry has been Assistant Director of the Hallé Youth Choir, and a vocal coach and accompanist for the Hallé Choir Academy. He has an ongoing association with the National Gilbert and Sullivan Opera Company, for which he has conducted all the main G&S titles including The Mikado, HMS Pinafore and The Gondoliers.

Growing up in Kingston upon Hull, he was one of the first students to be accepted onto the Yorkshire Young Musicians programme, going on to study piano with Helen Krizos at Royal Northern College of Music and later as a répétiteur with Kevin Thraves, earning a British Education Award for outstanding achievements during his studies.

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James Hendry and cellist Răzvan Suma, in concert on 30 and 31 March 2023 © Filarmonica George Enescu

Insights into The Royal Opera's La traviata © Royal Opera House

“James Hendry literally electrifies the orchestra.”

Michael Demel for Der Opernfreund, May 2023

“James Hendry, first Kapellmeister, proves to be an atmospheric Rimsky-Korsakov interpreter. Finely-tuned and never overshadowing, the conductor accompanies the singers, but also knows how to lead the Hanover State Symphony Orchestra to highlights.”

Svenja Koch for Bachtrack, January 2023

“With Hendry, on the other hand, every muscle fibre seems to demonstrate exuberant enthusiasm. This is strange when you see it for the first time – but in the long run it is contagious.”

Stefan Arndt for Kultur & Leben, January 2023

“Rimsky-Korsakov’s music really glitters and sparkles, and conductor James Hendry is the prospector here, presenting the colouristic richness and instrumental finesse in full glory and with finely balanced sonority.”

Henning Queren for Neue Presse, January 2023

“On this night I saw the assistant conductor, James Hendry, who mastered this whirlwind opera creating vibrant orchestral passages and sensitive moments with the singers too.”

Olivia Rose Tringham for Opera North, March 2020

“The ensemble finished off with the finale from ‘Falstaff’ and again the star was in the pit – James Hendry conducted with accomplished zest, thrillingly allowing these young singers to emerge triumphant from this experience.”

Louise Flind, July 2019

“From Rossini’s ‘Le comte Ory’, too, though there was real promise in the crisp musical guidance of another Jette Parker Young Artist, repetiteur and conductor James Hendry.”

David Nice for The Arts Desk, July 2017