Announcing our new Music Director

Maria will work closely with Aaron S. Watkin in overseeing the creative direction and quality of music at English National Ballet and English National Ballet Philharmonic, as well as assuming leadership of the Music Department.

Maria started her career as a professional ballet dancer, performing as a soloist with leading companies including Estonian National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Zurich Ballet and the Royal Ballet of Flanders, whilst simultaneously pursuing her studies in piano, violin, music theory, harmony and orchestration. She was an assistant conductor at Stuttgart Ballet where she made her conducting debut in April 2017. Since 2018, Maria has dedicated herself to conducting, working with prestigious ballet companies including The National Ballet of Canada where she was Conductor-in-Residence, San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, and most recently Paris Opera Ballet, where she conducted Soirée Robbins.

Maria’s innate understanding of the artform gives her a unique perspective, which, alongside her energy and intelligence, are a perfect fit for Music Director at English National Ballet. I am excited to work together and look forward to welcoming her to the Company.

Aaron S. Watkin

Taking up the position of Music Director at English National Ballet marks the beginning of an exciting chapter in my professional life, which I am thrilled about. I am looking forward to working alongside English National Ballet’s Artistic Director, Aaron S. Watkin, and sharing my love of music with the wonderful musicians of English National Ballet Philharmonic, the dancers, and of course, our audiences.

Maria Seletskaja

Maria will conduct English National Ballet Philharmonic for performances of Nutcracker in January and Swan Lake in-the-round in June. She will assume the role of Music Director full time at the beginning of the 2024/2025 Season. Our former Music Director Gavin Sutherland continues his close association with the Company as Principal Guest Conductor.

About Maria Seletskaja

Maria Seletskaja graduated from Tallinn Ballet School in 2002 and continued her studies at St. Petersburg Vaganova Ballet Academy. From 2003 to 2006, she studied choreography at Tallinn University. She has been a soloist with Estonian National Ballet, Staatsballett Berlin, Zurich Ballet and the Royal Ballet of Flanders and guested in many theatres around the world. While pursuing her career in dance, Maria studied both piano and violin. She studied music theory, harmony, and orchestration at Berklee College of Music in Boston and conducted under James Tuggle’s tutelage. During her final years as a dancer, she was also an assistant conductor at Stuttgart Ballet where she made her conducting debut in April 2017.

Since 2018, Seletskaja has dedicated herself fully to conducting, working with prestigious ballet companies including The National Ballet of Canada where she was Conductor-in-Residence, San Francisco Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet and most recently, Paris Opera Ballet, where she conducted Soirée Robbins. In 2022, she completed her Master’s studies in orchestral conducting with Maestro Arvo Volmer at the Estonian Academy of Music and Theatre.