My journey into conducting began in South Africa, where I originally trained as a pianist. I was drawn to conducting by a fascination with the endless possibilities of sound colour and interpretation within an orchestra - how one gesture can inspire musicians to create something alive, unified, and deeply expressive. The most special moments for me are when I feel completely connected with the musicians, both musically and personally, and together we create something that feels larger than ourselves. In 2022 I won the 5th South African Conductors’ Competition – an experience that opened the door to working with many of the country’s leading orchestras, including the Cape Town Philharmonic.

I recently completed my Master’s in Conducting at the Royal Conservatoire of Scotland (RCS) with Martyn Brabbins, where I was awarded the RCS Conducting Prize. Since then, I’ve been privileged to work internationally with orchestras such as the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra, Mozarteumorchester Salzburg, Orchestra of Scottish Opera, and Orchestre National de Metz Grande Est. Recent highlights include conducting the BBC Scottish Symphony Orchestra in concert for the BBC Young Conductors Showcase, reaching the semi-finals of the Karajan Young Conductors Award and the KNSO International Conducting Competition, and being named a semi-finalist in the Concours de Genève Conducting Competition, taking place in November 2026.

I am currently the Mills Williams Junior Fellow in Conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music. This season, I’ll conduct the Manchester Camerata, RNCM Symphony Orchestra, and various RNCM ensembles, including a performance of Prokofiev’s The Love for Three Oranges. I’ll also assist on concerts with the BBC Philharmonic and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestras. I’m fortunate to be mentored by Mark Heron, Clark Rundell, and Nicolás Pasquet, and to learn from masterclasses with visiting conductors throughout the year.

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If you'd like to find out more about Jacobus or would like to engage him with any conducting work then please contact us and we'd be delighted to put you in touch.