The Kecskemét Symphony Orchestra presents an international master course for conductors from 26th of June to 1st of July 2024, led by the world-famous Finnish conductor and educator, Jorma Panula.
Conductors can apply for the master course without any age limit. Based on the submitted videos, Maestro Panula will select up to 9 active participants. Each active participant will have at least 120 minutes on the podium, where they will have the opportunity to work with a full symphony orchestra. A video recording of the orchestral rehearsals will be made, which will be analysed by Maestro during the afternoon sessions, along with the participants. Selected active participants will have the opportunity to perform in front of the audience at the closing concert on 3rd of July in the Great Hall of the Hírös Agóra. Passive participation in the master course is also possible, subject to pre-registration. Passive participants will be able to follow the orchestral rehearsals and afternoon video classes from the auditorium, as well as receive a ticket to the closing concert.
The language of the master course is English.

Professor:
Jorma Panula was born in 1930 in Finland. From 1963 to 1965 he was conductor and artistic director of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra, and from 1965 to 1972 he held the same position at the Helsinki Philharmonic and from 1970 to 1973 at the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra in Denmark. He also regularly conducted the Finnish National Opera. As a professor at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki, Maestro Panula established the international reputation of the institution’s conductor’s department between 1973 and 1994. During his tenure, conductors such as Esa-Pekka Salonen, Mikko Franck, Sakari Oramo, Jukka-Pekka Saraste or Osmo Vänskä emerged from his class. He has also taught as a professor at the Royal Academy of Music in Stockholm and Copenhagen. He regularly holds master classes around the world, including London, Paris, Amsterdam, Moscow, the United States and Japan – and now in Kecskemét. Jorma Panula studied church music and conducting at the Sibelius Academy. His teachers were Leo Funtek, Dean Dixon, Albert Wolff and Franco Ferrara. In addition to conducting, he is also renowned composer. His operas, Jaako Ilkka and the River Opera established a genre entitled “performance opera” for its fusion of music, visual art and the art of daily life. Panula’s other compositions include musicals, church music, a violin concerto, jazz capriccio and numerous pieces of vocal music.

Location:
Hírös Agóra (HA)
Kecskemét, Deák Ferenc tér 1
6000
Hungary

Repertoire:
– Sibelius: Palleas et Melisande 
– Mozart: Cosi fan tutte Overture 
– Verdi: Prelude to act 3 from La Traviata
– Mendelssohn: Hebrides Overture
– Beethoven: 1th Symphony

Schedule:
26. 06. 2024
– 08:00 Registration, Hírös Agóra (HA),foyer
– 09:00-13:00 Orchestral rehearsal with the conductors, recorded on video HA Great Hall
– 13:00-14:30 Lunch break
– 14:30-17:00 Video analysis HA Small Hall
27. 06.
– 09: 00-13:00 Orchestral rehearsal with the conductors, recorded on video HA Great Hall
– 13:00-14:30 Lunch break
– 14:30-17:00 Video analysis HA Small Hall
28. 06.
– 09:00-13:00 Orchestral rehearsal with the conductors, recorded on video HA Great Hall
– 13:00-14:30 Lunch break
– 14:30-17:00 Video analysis HA Small Hall
29. 06.
– 09:00-13:00 Orchestral rehearsal with the conductors, recorded on video HA Great Hall
– 13:00-14:30 Lunch break
– 14:30-17:00 Video analysis HA Small Hall
30. 06.
– 09: 00-13:00 Orchestral rehearsal with the conductors, recorded on video HA Great Hall
– 13:00-14:30 Lunch break
– 14:30-17:00 Video analysis HA Small Room
01. 07.
– 15:00-18:00 Orchestral rehearsal HA Great Hall
Concert program
– 19:00-21:30 Closing Concert HA Great Hall

Application:
You can apply for the master course by filling out the online application form until 24th of May.
To apply one needs to submit:
– Name, age, contact (email and phone number)
– Biography in English
– A video recording of a concert or rehearsal that is no longer than 30 minutes and contains at least two contrasting styles of works or movements. The video must show the conductor from the front, from the orchestra point of view. We only accept Youtube or other, streamable links.
Application Form
Successful applicants will be notified by email before 31st of May.

Course fee:
The fee for the master course is 2100 Euro. Successful applicants must make a deposit of 600 Euros by 7th of June to the fee requester sent by Hírös Agóra. The remaining instalment (1500 Euro) must be paid upon arrival, by bank transfer, or on the spot, in cash.
For passive participants, the course fee is 120 Euro and is due upon arrival. Pre-registration is required by 14th of June at info@kecskemetiszimfonikusok.hu.
In the event that the organizer is forced to cancel the master course due to unforeseen circumstances, the participation fees will be refunded in full. However, we do not accept any liability for additional costs such as travel and accommodation. If the participant is forced to cancel the course due to circumstances beyond his / her control, the course fee may be refundable at the discretion of the organizer.
Travel, Accommodation:
Participants must provide accommodation and travel themselves. We recommend that you book in advance using the online hotel booking pages.