World renowned English conductor, Benjamni Zander once said: “The conductor of an orchestra doesn’t make a sound. He depends, for his power, on his ability to make other people powerful.” If these words resonate with you, you might just be the right person to explore the conductor course being offered by the Free State Symphony Orchestra (FSSO).
The FSSO, in conjunction with the South African National Youth Orchestra, presents a What It Takes: Conducting course from 7-14 July 2018 at the Odeion School of Music, University of the Free State; as part of the National Youth Orchestra’s annual Winter Course during the 2018 Vrystaat Arts Festival.
The course is an intensive orchestral programme designed to provide advanced candidates the opportunity to sharpen their professional skills with guidance from the best teachers in the country and the world, and give them access to the National Youth Orchestra’s local and international professional networks to improve their chances at a successful career in music.
Alexander Fokkens, FSSO Artistic Director and Conductor, and Leon Bosch, a viruouso double bassist and conductor who will come from the UK to lead the National Youth Orchestra 2018 and who will be teaching this year’s course.
Participants will have the opportunity to attend the National Youth Orchestra rehearsals as auditors, and participate in workshops led by professional conductors, as well as the opportunity for podium time in front of the National Youth Orchestra. The course also includes the opportunity to come to the National Youth Orchestra’s Immersion Experience with the Grammy Award-winning conductor, Osmo Vänskä, and the Minnesota Orchestra from 14-19 August during their tour to South Africa.
Young conductors on the course are Chad Hendricks, Shaun Karssen and Liam Burden from the Western Cape, Esté Meerkotter from Gauteng and André Oosthuizen from the North West. And as an extra treat, promising participants might just be invited back to work with the FSSO at a later stage.
For more information contact SANYO on team@sanyo.org.za.
info@bloemfonteincourant.co.za
