Luka Venter will soon have the life changing opportunity to study at the esteemed Royal Academy of Music in London in a postgraduate conducting programme. Luka is only the second New Zealander ever to be selected for this highly respected and selective programme, which traditionally accepts only two conductors per year.
For Luka this opportunity will be invaluable to building their career as a conductor.
“It's going to open so many doors with the chance to have really close contact with some of the best people in the business. You look at the list of alumni and it's just incredible, Sir Simon Rattle, Susanna Mälkki, and the list goes on,” Luka says.
“The Academy was very interested in the fact I have a good amount of experience already, especially in contemporary opera. They've been very keen for me to not only train as a conductor but to actively bring my expertise as well.”
Luka graduated in 2018 from Te Herenga Waka—Victoria University of Wellington with a Bachelor of Music, in Classical Performance and Composition. Luka came straight from Onslow College, where their teachers guided them towards the high-quality teaching staff at the University, including top-class professors in classical voice.
Luka has spent the last eight years building an impressive resume in conducting and composing roles here in Aotearoa and abroad. In 2023, they earned an First Class MA in Opera Making and Writing at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama and went on to deepen their training through the Britten-Pears Young Artist Programme and the Royal Ballet and Opera's Jette Parker Artist Programme. Luka has since worked with the Royal Ballet and Opera on the UK premiere of a new opera by Sir George Benjamin, worked in the UK and Europe, and they have held Conducting Fellowships with the NZSO and in the USA. .
Luka was also the 2025 Composer-in-Residence with the NZSO National Youth Orchestra, and their compositions have been performed in leading venues in the UK such as the Barbican Centre, St Martin-in-the-Fields, in Brazil and across Aotearoa.
Luka's passion for conducting was first ignited when they had the chance to step onto the podium in an NZSM conducting assessment
“There are all these myths about domineering conductors, and I just stood there, and all those myths sort of melted away. I was looking into the eyes of my friends and my colleagues and there was just this incredible exchange of energy and empathy,” Luka says.
“I think that was such an incredible moment and I've basically never looked back since.”
The more they learned about music, and about the unique discipline of conducting, the deeper their passion has become.
“I desperately wanted to not just listen, but somehow physically be a part of the sound. I think I found sound on a visceral level so exhilarating. When music is sculpted in a specific way, it can be thrilling and deeply emotive.
“With classical and orchestral music there's a mass group of people and you can see it as well as physically experience it, and it's incredible,” they say.
Reflecting on their time at The New Zealand School of Music—Te Kōkī, Luka recognises how their time at university has impacted their career, and what they have achieved so far.
“Being at Te Kōkī gave me such a unique perspective on music-making because of where we are in the world. Even though I was studying voice and composition, being embedded in the wider university ecosystem enabled me to develop this rich, holistic approach to things that I think paved the way for my eventual shift into conducting. It’s a discipline that thrives on drawing connections between things and between people,” Luka explains.
Luka was able to focus on their core music studies, while also exploring other areas of interest that ultimately strengthened their skills and experience.
“I had spaces in my schedule and got to fill it with these incredibly enriching things. I think it's healthy as a musician to pursue things that are not just music. I love languages, and now that I've gone into conducting and working in opera, the languages I studied have been such a valuable asset.”
Luka enormously enjoyed their time at NZSM and is grateful to the supportive staff and mentors who encouraged them at the time.
“Te Kōkī is a very small community, so it’s really special.”
Turning their attention to the National Music Centre, Luka feels optimistic about the opening, which will bring together Te Kōkī students, New Zealand Symphony Orchestra musicians, and industry leaders. The NMC opens in February 2027 in Te Whare Whakarauika Wellington Town Hall, and will enable some of the best music education and performance experiences in the world.
“Seeing it take shape has been quite emotional. One of the first times a piece of mine was performed publicly was at the Big Sing in the Town Hall,” they say.
“I can't help but feel optimistic about the symbolism of having these world-class facilities and both Te Kōkī and the NZSO embedded in the heart of the city. I'm curious to wait and see, but can only imagine what a ripple effect it's likely to have.”
“It's so inspiring to be able to hone your craft in the context of an incredible bespoke building, and I feel that in a way being in a space like the NMC gives you licence to not be shy, to be ambitious, and shoot for the stratosphere.”
Luka is excited for what’s ahead in the coming months, explaining that it’s the question of the unknown that is most intriguing when thinking about starting their Master’s at the Royal Academy of Music.
“To grow, you need to go through some uncomfortable stretches. It's only by pushing through those that you really get to the very highest levels in your discipline,” Luka says.
“Having the support at the Royal Academy of Music, literally the best infrastructure and support in the world, I'll be able to push myself more than I ever have.”
Studying at this level as an international student comes at a cost, and so Luka is holding a fundraising concert to contribute to their fees for the programme in London. The concert on Saturday 8 August will include musicians from NZSO, STROMA, and Orchestra Wellington, and will be a manifesto of Luka as a musician, while also a celebration of the strong musical community they have in Wellington.
Luka expresses that while their future studies will enhance their skills and propel their career forward, the ongoing value of their studies lies in giving back to where they came from.
“My aim is to become an international leader in my field, and I really do take the responsibility and leadership of my role as a conductor seriously. This training will help me come back to Aotearoa and in time, hopefully make a lasting impact on our musical landscape, while also being the strongest ambassador and advocate for our music in my work abroad.”