Conducting

Director: Toby Purser

with the Orion Symphony Orchestra

New for 2010!

Observer places are also available. The cost is £100 for the week. Please contact Sophie Bennett sob@aber.ac.uk for more information.

The First Conductors’ Class at the Aberystwyth Music Festival will be led by conductor Toby Purser, working both with piano, small ensemble, and the Orion Symphony Orchestra. The course will cover aspects of conducting technique and philosophy, musicianship and score preparation, aural awareness, rehearsing and competition skills. Sessions with orchestra will be videoed and followed by video analysis.

The Orion Symphony Orchestra will be in residence for the last three days of the course, working with the class. All students will be invited to work with the orchestra at least twice, and be involved in preparing the orchestra for its concerts.  A small number of students may also be selected to perform a work in the orchestra's two concerts.

Everyone should prepare the three compulsory works in the repertoire list. Students can choose as few or many of the other works they wish to have a lesson on during the course. However, students will benefit from having a knowledge of as much repertoire as possible.

In addition to the published repertoire list, participants will have regular collaboration with members of the composers’ course, with students invited to rehearse the new works.

Students are requested to bring instruments as there may be opportunities for chamber music, and to help create a class ensemble. Places are limited to twelve students, so it is advised to apply as soon as possible.

Repertoire:

*Mozart : Overture “le Nozze di Figaro”

*Mozart : Sprecherszene from Die Zauberflöte

*Beethoven : Symphony No.2

+Mendelssohn : Symphony No.4, “Italian”

+Wagner : Siegfried Idyll

+ Rossini : Overture 'Italian Girl in Algiers'

Debussy : Prelude a l'après-midi d'un faune (for music study class, piano only)

Beethoven : Triple Concerto (for observation)

(*denotes compulsory repertoire)

(+ at least one of these works should be studied)