May 19-23, online
May 26 - June 6, Fort Worth, Texas

Summer Program 2025

Join us for The Conducting Institute’s Summer Program, where students of all levels will explore the art and craft of orchestral conducting in a rigorous and encouraging setting, focused on teaching the fundamentals and establishing a solid foundation in this art form, both in classroom sessions and in front of orchestral ensembles. 

The Summer Program aims to provide a comprehensive educational experience for both beginning and in-training conductors. Consisting of extensive classes and hands-on Lab Orchestra sessions, the three-week program will cover thoroughly such topics as:

  • Fundamental Skills of Conducting

    • Score reading in multiple clefs

    • Transpositions

    • Orchestration

    • Ear Training (Dictations, sight singing, …)

    • Aural Skills (Singing Bach chorales in multiple clefs, … )

    • Keyboard Skills (Figured bass, playing Bach chorales in multiple clefs, …)

    • Languages and Terminology

    • Study of recitatives in multiple languages

    • Knowledge of orchestral terminologies in multiple languages

  • Score Study

    • Analysis of Repertoire

    • Preparing for Rehearsals

    • Working with Soloists

  • Mechanics of Conducting

    • Application of all the knowledge above from the podium

    • Video analysis of institute sessions and participants’ own previous conducting.

Schedule

The Summer Program will be May 19 - June 6, 2025.

The first week, May 19 - 23, will be virtual, comprising conducting seminars on the chosen repertoire, aural skills and ear training classes, and other classes on fundamental skills of conducting. Synchronous participation from 10am to 4pm Central Time is mandatory for all participants.

The second and third weeks, May 26 - June 6, will consist of hands-on work with the Institute’s Laboratory Orchestra, conducting seminars to discuss Lab Orchestra sessions, and ear training classes. In-person days will begin at 8:30am and end by 5:30pm.

A normal day will consist of 3 hours of orchestra session in the morning, followed by an ear training class, conducting seminar, and classes on various topics in the afternoon.

FOR SUMMER 2025: the Van Cliburn Piano Competition is taking place during the Institute, and there is a possibility of attending rehearslas for the competition in the evenings. These are not mandatory but rare and invaluable opportunity!

Where

Orchestra Hall
4401 Trail Lake Drive
Fort Worth, Texas 76109

Instructors

Miguel Harth-Bedoya and Associate Faculty
View our full faculty roster here.

Classes

Our program is unique in offering a variety of classes to provide a comprehensive conducting training. Classes for the summer program will include:

- Conducting Mechanics
- Score Study
- Ear Training
- Score Reading at the Piano
- Instrumental Techniques (Strings, Woodwinds, Brass, Percussion, and Timpani) with associate faculty
- Writing Skills

Studio Ensemble

In addition to the podium time with Institute Lab Orchestra, students will receive additional podium time with Studio Ensemble, which consists of Full Participants and Introductory Participants. Every conductor will be asked to bring their instruments, and we will play for each other during conducting seminars to address specific issues as necessary.

  • Each participant will have total of 165 minutes of podium time with the Lab Orchestra across 11 sessions, as well as participation in all the seminars, ear training classes, instrument techniques classes, and other activities.

    In addition to the 165 minute with Lab Orchestra, more podium time will happen during conducting seminars with ad hoc ensemble made up on participating conductors, in order to address specific issues and topics.

    Repertoire
    Recitavies (1 session), to be selected from
    - Mozart, Le Nozze di Figaro: “Hai gia vinta la causa,” “E Susanna non vien,” “Giunse alfin il momento” - in Italian
    - Mozart, Die Zauberflöte, “Die Weisheitslehre dieser Knaben” - in German
    - Mendelssohn, Elijah: “Ye people rend your hearts,” - in English
    - Haydn, Die Schöpfung: “Und Gott sprach: Es bringe das Wasser” - in German
    - Verdi, Rigoletto, “Pari siamo” - in Italian
    - Bizet, Carmen, “C’est bien la” or “La belle un mot” - in French

    Chamber Ensemble (2 Sessions)
    Garrido-Lecca, Delirios, for Ensemble

    Beethoven Symphonies (2 Sessions)
    - Symphony No. 2, Mov’ts I and II
    - Symphony No. 3, Mov’t I and II
    - Symphony No. 5, Mov’t I, II, and III
    - Symphony No. 8, Mov’t I

    Violin Concerto (2 Sessions)
    - Tchaikovsky, Violin Concerto, Selected Excerpts from Movements I and II

    Romantic Orchestra (4 sessions)
    - Brahms, Symphony No. 1, Mov’t I
    - Brahms, Symphony No. 4, Mov’t II
    - Schumann, Symphony No. 1, Mov’t I
    - Tchaikovsky, Symphony No. 5, Mov’t I and II
    - Dvorak, Symphony No. 8, Mov’ts I, II, and III

    For returning students:
    With consultation with the faculty, you are able to select repertoire within the instrumentation of the lab orchestra.

  • Designed for those who are looking to start their journey in orchestral conducting as beginners, this participation option will give you elementary tools of conducting. Participants will attend all the classroom sessions for the Full Participants (e. g. aural skills, keyboard skills, instrument techniques, etc.), conduct in six sessions with an ensemble consisting of other introductory participants, and play and conduct in ad hoc ensembles with Full Participants.

    Repertoire
    - Haydn, Recitative from The Creation
    - Revueltas, Ocho por Radio (ed. Peer Music)
    - Bartok, Romanian Folk Dances (arr. Harth-Bedoya)

    Conducting sessions will be taught by Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Maritza Cáceres, and Andrew J. Kim.

  • Auditors will have access to all the classroom sessions as well as lab orchestra sessions. There is no podium time for auditors.

Participation Categories and Repertoire

Tuition and Application Deadline

Tuition
Full Participation - $4,398
Introductory Participation - $1,498
Online Class Participation (Week 1 only) - $300
Auditing (In-person only) - $100 per week

Financial aid is available, also for auditors!

(Travel, housing, and meals are the responsibility of the participants.)