Jack Ridley is a London-born conductor, trained in Vienna at the Universität für Musik und darstellende Kunst. The son of two actors, and discovering a love of live performance at a young age, his musical sensibilities have been praised for their natural drama.

Jack made his Glyndebourne Festival debut in the summer of 2023, conducting The Rake’s Progress with the London Philharmonic Orchestra. He had previously conducted The Rape of Lucretia, Cendrillon and the inaugural Glyndebourne Christmas Concerts (Glyndebourne Tour), and Phaedra (for film). Jack has worked regularly at many of the UK opera houses, including Garsington, ETO, WNO and Scottish Opera; as well as for Neue Oper Wien, Drottningholm Slottsteater and Nederlandse Reisopera in Europe. He conducts Der fliegende Holländer for Persona Arts this summer, as part of a project drawing together communities across the West Midlands.

Eager to push the boundaries between different art forms, Jack conducted Rory Pilgrim’s RAFTS, a concert realisation of an artwork with a range of collaborators from across the world and walks of life, subsequently nominated for the 2023 Turner Prize. Last year, Jack performed at the Hay Literary Festival, and began his tenure as Principal Conductor of the Cinematic Orchestra of London.

Having trained as a primary school teacher during the pandemic, Jack is passionate about working with young people, and is an advocate for music’s role in wider society. He has conducted performances for or involving children for ETO, Garsington, Jubilee Opera, Welsh National Opera, The Hallé and Ignite Music, and led workshops and masterclasses for schools and Learning and Engagement departments across the country.

His first love being the piano, Jack is in demand as an accompanist and vocal coach. He was a finalist of the Hans-von-Bülow Klavierwettbewerb in Meiningen, conducting Beethoven’s Piano Concerto in C minor from the keyboard with the Meininger Hofkapelle.

www.jackridley.com