Conducting
About
The Conducting Fellowship Program at the Cortona Sessions for New Music is returning for the 2023 Sessions. Fellowships will be awarded to up to four conductors based on submitted audition materials. Two conductors will receive a partial-tuition scholarship of €1000. Opportunities for Conducting Fellows will include:
conduct at least one world premiere ensemble work with Sessions performers/faculty
conducting lessons/classes with Chris Younghoon Kim
conduct at least one work for small ensemble from the new music “canon” featuring Sessions performers/faculty
All Conducting Fellows will have the opportunity to enjoy all other aspects of the Sessions, including the excursions, concerts, classes, and events. More specifics about the Fellowship will be provided following the application process.
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deadline: February 15, 2026
eligibility: all performers age 18 and over
application fee: pay-what-you-can (suggested $35)
more info: tuition, lodging, travel, etcLate applications will be considered for acceptance into the Sessions, but financial aid, fellowships, and scholarships are not available to late applicants.
SUPPLEMENTAL MATERIALS
The application will require you to please submit the following:
links to videos demonstrating your conducting ability - at least three contrasting pieces (one should be from the 20th/21st Century)
link to current CV
link to repertoire list
contact info for two recommenders who can comment on the applicant in both professional and social settings (no recommendation letters needed)
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2025 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Anthony R. Green, Umoja
Augusta Reed Thomas, Terpsichore’s Box of Dreams
Fellows: Joe Lerangis, Darren Lin, Jacobsen Woollen, Kara Piatt, George Nickson2024 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Steven Stucky, Ad Parnassum
Anthony R. Green, Nia
Fellows: Robert Jay Garza III, Kara Piatt2023 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Kay Rhie, I Hear the Sound of Trees
Tina Tallon, How Compelling is the Sea
Fellows: Isobel Cumpston, Yajie Ye2022 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Gustav Mahler, arr. by Arnold Schoenberg, Songs of a Wayfarer
Claude Debussy, arr. by Arnold Schoenberg, L'apres midi d'un Faune
Fellows: James Chang, Thibault Back de Surany2019 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
David Schober, Variations for Sextet
Fellows: Michelle Di Russo, Kelly Lovelady, Barry Sharp2018 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Kay Rhie, Threshold
Ben Justis, Toxic Inheritance
Luke Carlson, Creations
Yangzhi Ma, Off
Fellows: Kelly Lovelady, Kin Siu2017 Conducting Fellowship Repertoire
Pierre Boulez, Dérive I / Franco Donatoni, Arpèges
Fellows: Marco Crispo, Karl Hirzer -
We are prepared to offer up to a full-tuition scholarship for one or more applicants who can provide audio/visual documentation services and/or other technological support. Specific responsibilities in this role will be dependent on your previous experience and talents, and could include any combination of the following: photographic documentation of the Sessions, video documentation of concerts, audio engineering for concerts, technical support for rehearsals and classes, production management, and more. There is a section on the application to fill out if you would like to be considered; there, please submit a brief description of your previous experience in audio-visual documentation and/or music technology, and please include links to work samples.
email all questions to: info@cortonasessions.org
