Tess Jackson is a dynamic British conductor who is quickly gaining international recognition. She has been named a Classic FM Rising Star and just completed a two-year tenure as Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.   

Her versatility spans a broad repertoire with a commanding presence in both symphonic and operatic works. The 26/27 season sees Tess debut with the Scottish Chamber Orchestra, Royal Philharmonic Orchestra, Halle Orchestra and Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra. She also returns to the Philharmonia, and the Lyric Opera of Chicago to conduct four performances of La Traviata, and has her debut at Glyndebourne Festival conducting a performance of Rossini’s La Cenerentola.

Her 2025–26 season included a return to the BBC Proms and Garsington Opera (La Traviata), as well as debuts with the National Symphony Orchestra of Ireland, Ulster Orchestra, BBC Concert Orchestra, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia.

Other opera engagements include her English National Opera debut, conducting The Marriage of Figaro. At Volksoper Wien, she conducted performances of West Side Story and Cabaret, having been Musical Assistant in the 2023/24 season. In 2025 she had a celebrated debut at the BBC Proms in three separate concerts, with the National Youth Orchestra with Holst’s The Planets, Britten Sinfonia with Gavin Higgins’ Rough Voices, and the Royal Northern Sinfonia at the Glasshouse. Subsequently, she was named one of the BBC Proms' ten “exceptional” artists under 30 and one of the “brightest rising stars on the international stage”.

Born in 2000, Tess graduated from Cambridge University with First Class in Music. She went on to study a Masters in Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music, where she received the Conducting and Regency Award for outstanding achievement.