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, as well as music-teachers. 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 Musical Terminology

  • Study of recitatives 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.
    

Dates and Schedule - May 31 to June 18

The Conducting Institute 2027 is three in-person weeks, which 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 9am and end by 5pm, Monday through Friday.

Preparation Period

There will be a few online classes leading up to the program covering skills, score study, and conducting mechanics, to help you prepare various topics such as notations (clefs and transpositions), recitatives, and how to approach score study.

Location

All activities take place at Orchestra Hall
4401 Trail Lake Dr.
Fort Worth, TX

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
- Latin American Orchestral Literature

Studio Ensemble

In addition to the podium time with Institute Lab Orchestra, students will receive additional podium time with Studio Ensemble, which consists of Intensive Participants and Fundamentals 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.

Participant Categories

Intensive Category (May 31 - June 18)

Miguel Harth-Bedoya - Program Director

Intensive Participants receive daily podium time with the full Lab Orchestra and work on the complete repertoire assigned for the summer. During the in-person weeks, Intensive Participants conduct every day (M-F). Total podium time will be at least 150 minutes.

Fundamentals Category (May 31 - June 11)

Andrew J. Kim - Program Director

Fundamentals Participants receive podium time three days in the first in-person week and four days in the second in-person week and conduct a smaller ensemble (String Quintet + Woodwind Quintet) on a curated set of repertoire appropriate to this level. Total podium time will be at least 105 minutes. Conducting sessions for the Fundamentals Category will be taught by Andrew J. Kim, Maritza Cáceres, and Miguel Harth-Bedoya.

Music Educators Category (June 7 - June 18)

Stephan Gomez - Program Director

The Music Educators’ category is designed to provide an in-depth study of conducting to support teachers and their ensemble programs. Classroom and lab ensemble sessions will aim to strengthen conducting/rehearsal techniques, and all musical/administrative skills associated with leading an ensemble. Participants will receive podium time three days in the first week and four days in the second week. Additionally, conductors will play in the ensemble. The repertoire will be organized throughout the two weeks from small scale to large scale to create a pathway for growth. Participants will have an opportunity to conduct the Institute Lab Symphony Orchestra in the final days of the Institute.

Auditors

Auditors are able to watch every session but will not be able to participate.

Lab Orchestra

The Institute’s Lab Orchestra consists of musicians drawn from conservatories and music schools around the country. We do not have any sessions that use two pianos.

Repertoire

Intensive Category

Recitatives

• Haydn, Die Schöpfung, “Und Gott Sprach: Es bringe das Wasser” - German for Intensive Participants

• Mendelssohn: Elijah, “Ye people, rend your hearts”

• Bizet: Carmen ("C'est bien là, n'est ce pas, dans ce grand bâtiment", and "La belle un mot")

• Mozart: Die Zauberflöte ("Die Weisheitslehre dieser Knabe")

• Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro ("E Susanna non vien", "Hai gia vinta la causa", and "Giunse alfin il momento”)

• Verdi: Rigoletto, “Pari siamo”

• Verdi: La Traviata, "E strano"

Chamber Ensemble

TBD

Beethoven Symphonies

• Selections from Symphonies No. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7.

  • After the admissions decisions, the faculty will work with accepted students to determine the selections appropriate to their goals.

Piano Concerto

• TBD

Romantic Symphonies

• Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68

• Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95

• Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5. in E minor, op. 64.

Fundamentals Category

Recitatives (To be selected from below)

• Haydn, The Creation, “And God Said: Let the Waters Bring Forth”

• Mendelssohn: Elijah, “Ye people, rend your hearts”

• Bizet: Carmen ("C'est bien là, n'est ce pas, dans ce grand bâtiment", and "La belle un mot")

• Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro ("E Susanna non vien", "Hai gia vinta la causa", and "Giunse alfin il momento”)

• Verdi: Rigoletto, “Pari siamo”

Strings

• Mozart, Eine Kleine Nachtmusik

• Elgar, Serenade for Strings

Winds and Strings

• Bartok, Romanian Folk Dances

• Selections Schubert, Symphony No. 5

Music Educators Category

Recitatives

• Haydn, The Creation, "And God Said: Let the Waters Bring Forth" 

• Mendelssohn: Elijah, "Ye people, rend your hearts"

• Mozart: Die Zauberflöte ("Die Weisheitslehre dieser Knaben")

• Mozart: Le Nozze di Figaro ("E Susanna non vien", "Hai gia vinta la causa", and "Giunse alfin il momento")

Strings

Participants will each submit a piece from their own music library to conduct. The repertoire must be written for string orchestra and should appropriately reflect levels of difficulty that would be programmed in their classrooms for concerts, UIL, Honor Orchestra, or other competitions. Participants will be responsible for preparing their own parts (including bowings) to be used by the lab ensemble. All parts and scores will be shared with the class for analysis and discussion.

Winds and Strings*

• Bartok, Romanian Folk Dances

• Schubert, Symphony No. 5, Mvt I

• Beethoven, Symphony No. 5, Mvt I

*Depending on participants’ repertoire selection with the symphony orchestra, symphony repertoire may be included in these sessions

Symphony Orchestra*

• Brahms Symphony No. 1 in C minor, op. 68

• Dvorak Symphony No. 9 in E minor, op. 95

• Tchaikovsky Symphony No. 5. in E minor, op.  64.

*Participants will discuss their goals and desires regarding repertoire with TCI Faculty. Select movements of one or more works will be assigned for the specific needs of each participant. 

Studio Ensemble

Participants will receive additional podium time with Studio Ensemble, which consists of Intensive, Fundamentals, and Music Educator 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.

Application Process

The application process is the same for all categories.

Applications are accepted from January 1 through January 22, 2027 at 11:59 pm.

Required materials for both participation categories include:

• Résumé

• Short introductory video (no longer than 3 minutes) introducing yourself, describing your interest for conducting, and sharing your musical goals.

• Conducting video.

After an initial review period, selected applicants will be invited to a Zoom interview before final decisions are made.

Only nine Intensive Participants, eight Fundamentals Participants, and seven Music Educators participants will be admitted in 2027.

Tuition*

• Intensive Participation: $4,398

• Fundamentals Participation: $1,698

• Music Educators : TBD

• Auditing - $100 per week

* There will not be a increase in the tuition amount for the 2027 edition of The Conducting Institute.

Financial aid is available, also for auditors!

Travel, housing, and meals are the responsibility of the participants. An option to stay with a host family may become available through your financial aid package.

Contact

For questions, please contact andrew@conductinginstitute.org