Conductor's Week 2024
05Aug.
When: August 5-9 2024
Where: Stavanger, Norway
For: Conductors 18 years or older
The application period will be open from February 1st until May 1st 2024.
The Conductor’s Week (in Norwegian «Dirigentuka») is Norway’s largest and most popular conducting course. We host over 100 participants and a teaching staff of 10-15 acclaimed conductors and educators. The course is available to international participants.
The Conductor’s Week is a result of a collaboration between the Norwegian Band Federation and the University of Stavanger’s Faculty of Performing Arts.
Follow Conductor’s Week on Facebook.
Masterclass with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra:
When: August 4 – 6 2024
Up to 8 participants are selected as active participants in the advanced masterclass with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra (SSO).
The course includes three days:
- One preporatory day with a pianist
- Two days with full orchestra. Each participant will recieve 20-25 minutes of podium time each day
- Feedback and video analysis.
In 2024, the masterclass will be led by Martyn Brabbins, former music director of the English National Opera and renowned pedagogue.
The repertory will be:
Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 – movements 1 and 2
To be considered for the masterclass you have to complete the application form and send a CV and a video recording of yourself conducting. Please make sure the video is showing you from the orchestra’s perspective. Maximum 15 minutes of video. The CV and video are to be uploaded in the application form.
The selection of the participants will be done after the application deadline on May 1st, and all applicants will be notified via e-mail. If you are not offered a slot in the SSO course you may be offered to participate in the «Main conducting course» if you so desire.
Price: € 400.00
Main conducting course
When: August 5 – 9 2024
The main conducting course is a highly popular course and is open for all levels, ranging from beginners to experienced conductors. The participants will both work in smaller groups conducting each other and also get practice with larger wind ensembles. There will be podium time available with various wind ensembles in this course.
We welcome all international participants, but bear in mind that the course is held, primarily, in Norwegian. English speaking students will be offered tuition in English when participating in masterclasses. However: general tuition, masterclasses and lectures may be held in Norwegian only.
Repertoire:
John Williams/arr. Johan de Meij: Star Wars
Gustav Holst: Second Suite
Robert Jager: Esprit de Corps
Fredrick Schjelderup: Hereditas
Robert Sheldon: Appalachian Morning
Price: € 300.00
There is a total limit of 100 participants at «Dirigentuka». Applications received after the 100 participant limit has been reached will be placed on the waiting list – based upon the order of which the applications were received.
There are a number of courses that are generally offered only for participants who understand Norwegian or another Scandinavian language. Read more about the complete range of courses here (in Norwegian only).
Masterclass with the Stavanger Brass Band
When: August 5 – 9 2024
10 participants are pre-selected as active participants in the advanced master class and concert performance with Stavanger Brass Band. The masterclass with Stavanger Brass Band includes group sessions and daily rehearsals with Stavanger Brass Band. Each conductor will be designated one piece or movement to rehearse and perform with the brass band.
The masterclass will be held by professor in conducting and Head of the Conducting Department, University of Stavanger, Bjarte Engeset.
The selection of the 10 participants will be done shortly after the application deadline on May 1st, and all applicants will be notified via e-mail. If you are not offered a slot in the masterclass with Stavanger Brass Band you may be offered to participate in the «Main conducting course» if you so desire.
We welcome all international participants, but bear in mind that the course is held, primarily, in Norwegian. English speaking students will be offered tuition in English when participating in masterclasses. However: general tuition, masterclasses and lectures may be held in Norwegian only.
To be considered for the masterclass you have to complete the application form, including uploading your CV in the application form. If you have any problems with the application, please contact dirigentuka@musikkorps.no.
Repertoire:
Eric Ball: Tournament for brass
Dean Goffin: Rhapsody in Brass
Fredrick Schjelderup: Ascension
Herbert Howells: Suite Pageantry
Verdi/arr. Wright: La forza del destino Overture
Rachmaninov/arr. Howard Snell: Vocalise
Price: € 400.00
Application
The application period for Conductor’s week 2024 now closed. The application deadline was May 1st 2024.
Applicants for the Stavanger Brass Band and Stavanger Symphony Orchestra masterclass must sumbit their resume (CV) and video recording of themselves conducting (Stavanger Symphony Orchestra-applicants only). This is to be uploaded in the application form. If you have any problems contact dirigentuka@musikkorps.no.
The repertoire for Conductor’s Week 2024:
Main conducting course:
Repertoire:
John Williams/arr. Johan deMeij: Star Wars
Gustav Holst: Second Suite
Robert Jager: Esprit de Corps
Fredrick Schjelderup: Hereditas
Robert Sheldon: Appalachian Morning
Masterclass with the Stavanger Symphony Orchestra:
Edward Elgar: Enigma Variations
Ludwig van Beethoven: Symphony no. 3 – movements 1 and 2
Masterclass with the Stavanger Brass Band:
Eric Ball: Tournament for brass
Dean Goffin: Rhapsody in Brass
Fredrick Schjelderup: Ascension
Herbert Howells: Suite Pageantry
Verdi/arr. Wright: La forza del destino Overture
Rachmaninov/arr. Howard Snell: Vocalise
The repertoire may be subject to change.
The Conductor’s Week is held at the Department of music and dance at the University of Stavanger. This is located in Bjergsted Culture Park – the heart of Stavanger’s cultural district. This is about a 10 minute walk from downtown Stavanger. On the way you’ll walk through the picturesque old town Stavanger.
Here is a map of the area.
There are plenty of hotels in downtown Stavanger, but August is a very busy time of the year, so we do recommend that you book early.
Stavanger airport Sola (SVG) is only 20 minutes away from Stavanger. There are regular shuttles («Flybussen»/»Flybuss») to downtown.
Stavanger train station is operated by VY and offers several trains every day to and from Kristiansand and Oslo.
Bergen and other west coast cities are best reached by bus.
The regional tourist website has useful information, including a search engine for lodging: http://www.regionstavanger.com/en/
The teachers at Conductor’s Week 2024 are:
- Martyn Brabbins: Masterclass Stavanger Symphony Orchestra
- Bjarte Engeset: Head of Conducting, University of Stavanger
- Peter Szilvay: Associate Professor of Conducting, University of Stavanger.
- Trond Husebø: Main conducting course
- Sverre Olsrud: Main conducting course
- Morten Wensberg: Main conducting course
- Ingunn Korsgård Hagen: Main conducting course
- Birgitte Grong: music adviser Norwegian Band Federation
- Bjørn Breistein
