Conducting Master Class 2025

Participants:                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                         Conductors with a high musical level who have already gained experience with professional orchestras or currently studying orchestral, choral conducting or accompaniment at university level. Each student must prepare at least three pieces from the proposed repertoire with orchestra. The pieces to be performed in the concert will be selected after the piano work and after the second rehearsal with the orchestra. We want the performance in the concert/competition to be at the highest possible level for the participants, so that it can also serve as a working basis and as an application tool for further masterclasses and competitions.
The piano rehearsals offer the opportunity to highlight technical and musical aspects relevant to the orchestral work, as well as to emphasise the focus of individual work before the orchestral sessions.

The orchestral rehearsals will allow participants to familiarise themselves with the relationship between sound and gesture inherent in the conducting profession, to discuss rehearsal technique with a professional orchestra and to become aware of concert/rehearsal gesture.

All participants will prepare items 1), 2), and 3) from the required pieces.
Required Pieces:

1) Serenade op. 22 – A. Dvořák: First or second movement
2) Symphony No. 3 – R. Schumann: two movements
3)  One overture of free choice from the following pieces:
        J. Strauss: Fledermaus Overture
        C. M. von Weber: Freischütz Overture
        W. A. Mozart: The Magic Flute Overture
        Otto Nicolai: The Merry Wives of Windsor Overture
        F. Schubert: Rosamunde Overture

The pieces -1), 2) and 3)- will be practised with piano and two of them will be rehearsed with the orchestra. The pieces to be conducted with orchestra will be chosen by the instructor. The prepared works must be announced at the time of registration.

On 5th and 6th August 2025 the participants will work with two pianos, on 7th and 8th August with the Savaria Symphony Orchestra. Each participant will have 80 minutes with the piano and 60 minutes with the orchestra. As part of the final concert on 8th August in the Joseph Haydn Hall, a competition be hold and a renowned jury will award a certificate to the three best participants. Limited number of 8 participants. Each participant will receive a recording of the concert, which can be used privately.

Registration is possible until 30th May 2025.

Prerequisites:
High level of musical training (solfège, analysis, instrument).
Experience with orchestras or choirs
Be enrolled in a studying program in choral, orchestral conducting or opera vocal coaching.

Schedule:
5th August
-    1 hour introduction for the week (goal, planning, questions, presentation...)
-    2 times 3 hours piano rehearsal

6th August
-    1 hour of feedback and methodology of the work (rehearsal strategy, score preparation, questions...)
-    2 times 3 hours piano rehearsal

7th August
-    2 times 3 hours orchestra rehearsal (10:00-13:30 and 14:00-17:30)
-    1 hour feedback from orchestra rehearsal and preparation for the dress rehearsal

8th August
-    1 time 3 hours orchestra rehearsal (14:00-17:00)
-    Concert and competition

Accompanists:
Paul Drouet (korrepetitor and conductor in Dessau)
Alessandro Zerilli (korrepetitor in Volksoper Vienna)