Masterclass & International Conducting Competition – 6th Edition, Bucharest, Gloria Hall, July 10-19, 2024
Bucharest, June 21 2024
The Bucharest Symphony Orchestra (OSB) with the support of the Bucharest 3rd District Mayorship, celebrates Tchaikovsky’s music and the passion for conducting at the sixth edition of the Bucharest Masterclass and International Conducting Competition, which will take place from July 10-19, 2024, at Sala Gloria in Bucharest.
The Bucharest Conducting Academy – the educational department of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra – thus marks another important step in the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra’s mission to support talented young musicians.
“The Bucharest Conducting Academy offers the best conducting education in Romania. We provide aspiring conductors with the resources and experience they need to achieve their goals and learn how to conduct an orchestra. Our mission is to provide performing artists with opportunities to train, develop their craft, achieve excellence, and advance their orchestral conducting careers. The International Conducting Masterclass and Competition is a prestigious event that aims to nurture and showcase the talents of aspiring conductors from all over the world. Through expert guidance and rewarding competition experience, participants receive a unique opportunity to grow and develop their conducting skills,” says Cătălin Oprițoiu, President of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra Association.
The Academy will continue to organize annual master classes, seminars, competitions and other events dedicated to the professional development of conductors.
The event, unique in the Romanian musical landscape, with international representation, has become an important landmark in music education in Romania, offering a unique opportunity for young conductors to learn from internationally renowned masters and to hone their skills under their guidance. Over the past five editions, the Masterclass and Competition have brought together more than 350 participants from all over the world, making a significant contribution to launching the careers of many talented conductors and giving them an unforgettable experience.
This year’s Masterclass will be conducted by John Axelrod, internationally renowned professor and Principal Conductor of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra. For five days from July 10-15, students will attend lectures and seminars, conduct and rehearse with the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and a string quartet.
On July 15, at Sala Gloria, the active students, selected by a vote of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, will have the opportunity to conduct the orchestra, showcasing their talent and acquired skills, in an Extraordinary Concert, which will mark the end of this edition’s Masterclass. For the first time, the audience in Bucharest’s 3rd district will enjoy a selection of classical works by P.I. Tchaikovsky, performed by the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and conducted by the young students.
The event continues with a prestigious competition: The International Conducting Competition. This year’s competition will once again bring together talented young conductors from all over the world in Bucharest, all around the music of the great composer P.I. Tchaikovsky.
“Why Tchaikovsky? Not only because these masterclass and competition works are the core repertoire for all conductors, but also because Tchaikovsky provides the conductor with all the technical and interpretative lessons needed to be successful with orchestras and to advance in a conducting career. And it is simply brilliant and beautiful music that we never tire of listening to, playing and conducting throughout our lives. So join us as we explore in depth the one composer who is for many the first choice for program and performance. Take the Tchaikovsky challenge and win! See you in Bucharest from July 10-19!” announces John Axelrod.
An international jury made up of leading personalities from the classical music scene will evaluate the competitors’ performances. Jury members: Jury President: JOHN AXELROD, principal conductor of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, David Crescenzi, internationally renowned conductor, Laurențiu Muntean, manager of the Arad State Philharmonic Orchestra, Mihai Badiu, manager of the Bacău Philharmonic Orchestra, Carmen Rus, manager of the Oradea State Philharmonic, Georgiana Francu, artistic director of the Ploiesti Philharmonic, Emőke Kovács, manager of the Dinu Lipatti Satu Mare Philharmonic, György Levente, manager of the Târgu Mureș Philharmonic, prof. Cătălin Oprițoiu, Founder of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra.
The competition finalists will have the joy of conducting the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra in a Gala Concert at the Romanian Athenaeum, a high point in the career of any young conductor, plus substantial cash prizes and concerts offered by Romanian cultural institutions.
The Bucharest Symphony Orchestra (OSB) with the support of the Bucharest 3rd District City Hall, celebrates Tchaikovsky’s music and the passion for conducting at the sixth edition of the Bucharest Masterclass and International Conducting Competition, which will take place from July 10-19, 2024, at Sala Gloria in Bucharest.
The Bucharest Conducting Academy – the educational department of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra – thus marks another important step in the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra’s mission to support talented young musicians.
“The Bucharest Conducting Academy offers the best conducting education in Romania. We provide aspiring conductors with the resources and experience they need to achieve their goals and learn how to conduct an orchestra. Our mission is to provide performing artists with opportunities to train, develop their craft, achieve excellence, and advance their orchestral conducting careers. The International Conducting Masterclass and Competition is a prestigious event that aims to nurture and showcase the talents of aspiring conductors from all over the world. Through expert guidance and rewarding competition experience, participants receive a unique opportunity to grow and develop their conducting skills,” says Cătălin Oprițoiu, President of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra Association.
The Academy will continue to organize annual master classes, seminars, competitions and other events dedicated to the professional development of conductors.
The event, unique in the Romanian musical landscape, with international representation, has become an important landmark in music education in Romania, offering a unique opportunity for young conductors to learn from internationally renowned masters and to hone their skills under their guidance. Over the past five editions, the Masterclass and Competition have brought together more than 350 participants from all over the world, making a significant contribution to launching the careers of many talented conductors and giving them an unforgettable experience.
This year’s Masterclass will be conducted by John Axelrod, internationally renowned professor and Principal Conductor of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra. For five days from July 10-15, students will attend lectures and seminars, conduct and rehearse with the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and a string quartet.
On July 15, at Sala Gloria, the active students, selected by a vote of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, will have the opportunity to conduct the orchestra, showcasing their talent and acquired skills, in an Extraordinary Concert, which will mark the end of this edition’s Masterclass. For the first time, the audience in Bucharest’s 3rd district will enjoy a selection of classical works by P.I. Tchaikovsky, performed by the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra and conducted by the young students.
The event continues with a prestigious competition: The International Conducting Competition. This year’s competition will once again bring together talented young conductors from all over the world in Bucharest, all around the music of the great composer P.I. Tchaikovsky.
“Why Tchaikovsky? Not only because these masterclass and competition works are the core repertoire for all conductors, but also because Tchaikovsky provides the conductor with all the technical and interpretative lessons needed to be successful with orchestras and to advance in a conducting career. And it is simply brilliant and beautiful music that we never tire of listening to, playing and conducting throughout our lives. So join us as we explore in depth the one composer who is for many the first choice for program and performance. Take the Tchaikovsky challenge and win! See you in Bucharest from July 10-19!” announces John Axelrod.
An international jury made up of leading personalities from the classical music scene will evaluate the competitors’ performances. Jury members: Jury President: JOHN AXELROD, principal conductor of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra, David Crescenzi, internationally renowned conductor, Laurențiu Muntean, manager of the Arad State Philharmonic Orchestra, Mihai Badiu, manager of the Bacău Philharmonic Orchestra, Carmen Rus, manager of the Oradea State Philharmonic, Georgiana Francu, artistic director of the Ploiesti Philharmonic, Emőke Kovács, manager of the Dinu Lipatti Satu Mare Philharmonic, György Levente, manager of the Târgu Mureș Philharmonic, prof. Cătălin Oprițoiu, Founder of the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra.
The competition finalists will have the joy of conducting the Bucharest Symphony Orchestra in a Gala Concert at the Romanian Athenaeum, a high point in the career of any young conductor, plus substantial cash prizes and concerts offered by Romanian cultural institutions.