The Program
Recognition Opportunities
How To Apply

The American Academy of Conducting at Aspen (AACA) provides participants with intensive conducting training with a skilled orchestra, assists them in gaining podium experience, and supports each individual's development as a conductor.

The heart of the Academy is the opportunity for sixteen to twenty conductors to work with an orchestra of experienced musicians, and to play as a member of that orchestra under the baton of program colleagues - all under the guidance of master conductors. Participants learn by conducting a wide range of repertoire and types of performances, including orchestral concerts, concerto performances, opera master class arias and scenes, repertoire readings, composer readings, film scoring, and a family concert.

The program is overseen by distinguished master conductors, AACA Associate Director and Program Coordinator Murry Sidlin, who are joined by distinguished AMFS artist-faculty including many guest conductors. In 2009, the list included Nicholas Kraemer, Asher Fisch, James Conlon, James DePreist, Jane Glover, George Manahan, John Nelson, Christopher Seaman, and Leonard Slatkin.

The Academy brings to each participant the national attention that is critical to establishing a career. Established conductors, orchestra managers, artist managers, music critics, and other music executives may come to Aspen each summer to spotlight the brightest emerging talent.

The Program

Each AACA participant will receive a full fellowship to the AMFS. The participant will be active as a conductor in front of the fifty-five member Academy Orchestra, with the goal of permitting each conductor at least thirty minutes of podium time in at least six of the Academy's eight weeks. When off the podium, each conductor will play an instrument in the orchestra.

Participants will rehearse and conduct concerts of orchestral and concerto repertoire, and opera master class scenes and/or arias. They share repertoire-reading sessions and rehearse contemporary scores. All sessions are videotaped for individual use and artist-faculty review.

Beyond the podium, the Academy offers all participants an extensive curriculum covering both musical and extra-musical elements, including a set of intensive sessions on score analysis. Murry Sidlin oversees regular technique classes and sessions on career advice, and guest conductors present sessions on score study.

Academy participants are expected to attend rehearsals and concerts of the AMFS's other three orchestras, and are encouraged to organize their own performances. They also are welcome to take other AMFS classes, and as many as eight private instrumental lessons from an AMFS artist-faculty member. While the Academy program is intensive and demanding, averaging eight orchestral services each week, the AMFS is committed to ensuring that participants have adequate time for study and rest.

Auditors may be admitted and will be welcome at all sessions, but will not conduct the orchestra. Financial assistance is not available for auditors.

Fellowships are available for instrumentalists to play as regular members of the Academy Orchestra. Interested applicants should follow these guidelines.

Courses
All students are encouraged to participate in the music-related courses offered by the AMFS artist-faculty and staff. In addition, the AMFS offers courses in body awareness, including Alexander Technique. College credit is available for some courses. For a full list of course offerings, click here.

American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Program Components

• Conducting the Academy Orchestra in readings, rehearsals, and performance
• Coaching with master conductors
• Evaluation with videotape of the conducting sessions
• Observation by and meeting with AMFS guest conductors
• Technique classes
• Periodic classes in score reading and analysis and score preparation

Recognition Opportunities
Academy participants are eligible to be chosen for four prestigious opportunities:

• One Academy participant may be awarded the Aspen Conducting Prize, which carries with it the invitation to return to Aspen the following summer as assistant conductor. For 2010, the prize is awarded to Case Scaglione.
• One Academy participant may be awarded the Robert J. Harth Conductor Prize, which carries with it the invitation to return to Aspen the following summer as an Academy Conductor on fellowship. For 2010, the prize is awarded to Joshua Weilerstein.
• One Academy participant may be awarded the James Conlon Conductor Prize, which carries with it the invitation to return to Aspen the following summer as an Academy Conductor on fellowship. For 2010, the prize is awarded to Robert Katkov-Trevino.
• One or more outstanding Academy participants may be invited to conduct and work with the Cleveland Orchestra at the Blossom Music Center, sharing the podium with David Zinman the following summer. This American Academy of Conducting at Aspen Residency at Blossom Music Festival also may include an invitation to visit the Cleveland Orchestra during the regular subscription season to attend rehearsals and performances, and possibly to be assigned as cover conductor for a week.

HOW TO APPLY:

All items to be submitted together. All materials, including recordings, will not be returned.

• Due Date: November 13, 2009 (Apply early for discounted application fee.)
• All items to be submitted together:*
  • Completed application (the financial aid portion of application is not required of AACA applicants)
  • Application fee
  • One DVD
    • showing recent conducting experience
    • NTSC standard, playable on U.S. video systems
    • showing a front view of the conductor from a reasonable distance, and ideally demonstrating a varied selection of repertoire
  • Two copies of an instrumental CD
    • instrumental performance, approximately fifteen minutes in length (Note: applicants will not be considered without receipt of instrumental CDs)
  • Current résumé
• Be sure all items on the Application Checklist have been completed.
  

In addition to the above requirements, students are strongly encouraged but not required to send two letters of recommendation, which may be used in the scholarship process.

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