IX Orchestral Conducting Encounters and Bilbao Musika International Conducting Prize

ABOUT THE COMPETITION

The main objective of these encounters is to promote the study of orchestral conducting in contemporary formations, in addition to offering technical and artistic resources for the development of conducting instrumental groups.

In this new call, conducting classes will be combined with the development of the “BILBAO MUSIKA International Conducting Prize” competition. The selected participants in the active participant modality will conduct the Banda Municipal de Bilbao in the practical classes of the course. Both these classes and the theoretical ones to be held in the afternoon will be open to all registered participants of the course, both in active or auditor modality.

In previous editions, we have had as teachers the maestros: Johan de Meij, Jan van der Roost, Franco Cesarini, Thomas Doss, Bert Appermont, Douglas Bostock, Isabelle Ruf-Weber, and Timothy Reynish. On this occasion, it will be the Argentine maestro, professor at the Strasbourg Conservatory, Miguel Etchegoncelay who will visit us as guest teacher and president of the jury.

Competition Rules:

1. The competition is open to conductors born on or after January 1, 1985.
2. From all the registrations to the competition, a maximum of 10 participants will be chosen as active participants and as contestants for the BILBAO MUSIKA International Conducting Prize.
3. The competition is divided into three phases: PRELIMINARIES (10 participants, Tuesday and Wednesday), SEMIFINALS (6 participants), and FINAL (3 participants).
4. The teaching staff of the Banda Municipal de Bilbao will be in charge of choosing the 6 semifinalist candidates by voting, after their participation in the rehearsals on January 7 and 8, 2025 (15 minutes each participant).
5. The semifinal and final of the competition will have as a jury both the vote of the president of the tribunal, Maestro Miguel Etchegoncelay, as well as the deliberation carried out by voting among the teaching staff of the Banda Municipal de Bilbao.
6. The semifinal and final phases will be open to the public.
7. The winner of the final phase will obtain as a prize being appointed guest conductor in one of the concerts of the 2025-2026 Season of the Banda Municipal de Bilbao. For this invitation, they will receive a remuneration of 1,500 euros plus accommodation expenses.