Néstor Bayona has been appointed Mackerras Fellow at the English National Opera for the 2026–28 seasons, marking an important milestone in the Spanish conductor’s growing international career.
Speaking about the appointment, Bayona said:
“It is an honour to be appointed ENO’s Mackerras Fellow for 2026–28. The opportunity to work at the London Coliseum and in Greater Manchester so closely with a mentor of the calibre of André de Ridder and collaborate with the outstanding musicians of the ENO Chorus, Orchestra and Music Staff will be invaluable to my development as a conductor. I can’t wait to get started.”
Over the past decade, Bayona has built a strong profile across both symphonic and operatic repertoire. In 2023, he served as Resident Conductor of the National Polish Radio Symphony Orchestra, following earlier engagements as assistant conductor with the orchestra. His recent seasons have included collaborations with leading ensembles such as the Orquesta Sinfónica de Castilla y León and appearances at major venues including the Palau de la Música Catalana, where he conducted the Spanish premiere of Ravel’s rediscovered Sémiramis.
In opera, Bayona has conducted productions at institutions including the Teatro de la Zarzuela, Teatro Campoamor and Teatr Wielki – Polish National Opera, as well as at Opera Śląska and the Hungarian Opera in Cluj-Napoca. His experience also includes assisting leading conductors such as Marin Alsop and Lawrence Foster on major productions and festival performances, including work at the George Enescu Festival.
Earlier in his career, Bayona held assistant positions at the Opéra de Marseille and collaborated with companies such as the Gran Teatre del Liceu, Komische Oper Berlin and Oper Frankfurt. Alongside his conducting work, he is Artistic Director of the Ricard Viñes International Piano Competition and Festival in Lleida.
Bayona studied at the Royal Northern College of Music, where he was awarded the Gold Medal, and continued his training at the Haute École de Musique de Genève and the Universität der Künste Berlin. His achievements have been recognised with the ARNCM award and the Ciutat de Lleida International Award.
His appointment as Mackerras Fellow at ENO signals an exciting new chapter, offering further opportunities to develop his work in the operatic field at one of the UK’s leading companies.
Néstor Bayona
Conductor
