RBC Canadian Conductor Showcase
The RBC Canadian Conductor Showcase provides a unique professional training opportunity to four emerging Canadian conductors, who will be immersed in the orchestral world through mentorship with the WSO by music director Daniel Raiskin and the WSO artistic team.
2024/2025 RBC Canadian Conductor Showcase
Conducting a professional orchestra is one of the great accomplishments of a conductor’s career. There are, however, few opportunities for Canadians in the early stages of their careers to engage with professional orchestras in a practical, hands-on environment. The symphony orchestra presents many challenges, including effectively balancing the orchestra’s many instruments and communicating clearly with the musicians and audience.
The goal of the showcase is to both acquaint the WSO with talented Canadian conductors, as well as to provide the selected conductors the opportunity to work with a major Canadian orchestra under the guidance and mentorship of music director Daniel Raiskin. Finalist(s) may be selected to conduct the WSO at a concert program in a future season.
The RBC Emerging Artists Project supports organizations that provide the best opportunity to advance an artist’s career trajectory in genres such as visual arts, music, theatre, performance, literature and film. Every year the RBC Foundation donates millions of dollars to hundreds of arts organizations globally to help emerging artists become established. The WSO gratefully acknowledges RBC’s support of the RBC Canadian Conductor’s Showcase.
DATES
February 4-5 & 6, 2025
REPERTOIRE
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor
Mozart: Concerto No.27 in B-flat major for Piano
III: Allegro
Jammie Lee, piano
FORMAT
Each candidate will participate in a one-hour masterclass session with music director Daniel Raiskin and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. WSO music director Daniel Raiskin will introduce each finalist to the orchestra and will invite you to say a few words before your session begins. A 15-minute debrief with Daniel Raiskin, selected WSO musicians and WSO’s conducting team will take place following your session.
On the final session in day 3, the candidates will conduct in an Open Rehearsal format in front of a live audience. The candidates will be told which movement(s) of the Symphony and/or Concerto they will conduct for this Open Rehearsal after the masterclass. Each candidate will be required to prepare a short introduction for each selection they will be conducting. Instrumentation will comprise the WSO nucleus (3222/4231/Timp+2p/hp/strings)
SCHEDULE
DAY 1:
Masterclass:
A two-hour Masterclass session (7:00-9:00 pm) for all candidates with Daniel Raiskin and Monica Chen and a pianist on Tchaikovsky 6th Symphony only.
DAY 2:
Orchestra Session #1: Each candidate works individually with the orchestra in a masterclass format, followed by musician feedback.
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor only
10:00-10:30 am: Candidate #1
10:30-11:00 am: Candidate #2
11:30-12:00 pm: Candidate #3
12:00-12:30 pm: Candidate #4
Orchestra Session #2: Each candidate works individually with the orchestra in a masterclass format, followed by musician feedback.
Tchaikovsky: Symphony No.6 in B minor only
Mozart: Concerto No.27 in B-flat major for Piano
III: Allegro
Jammie Lee, piano
1:30-2:00 pm: Candidate #1
2:00-2:30 pm: Candidate #2
3:00-3:30 pm: Candidate #3
3:30-4:00 pm: Candidate #4
Post-session events:
5:00-6:30 pm
Dinner with Daniel Raiskin and Monica Chen
DAY 3
Open Rehearsal:
10:00-12:30 pm
Complete performance of the assigned repertoire before a live audience, including short introductions to the audience from each candidate and feedback from music director Daniel Raiskin.
Travel & Accommodations
Return air travel reimbursement up to $700, two nights’ hotel accommodation and two days’ per diem will be provided to each finalist for the two-day period.
Personnel
Daniel Raiskin, music director
Monica Chen, RBC assistant conductor
Eligibility
Canadian citizens and permanent residents, whose talents and vision comprise all aspects of concert preparation, presentation and performance to a wide variety of audiences, are invited to apply.
Audio/Video recording
Candidates will be given a high-quality audio/video recording of all their orchestra sessions.
Application requirements
- Link(s) to an online video of a performance or rehearsal of one or two contrasting works. Combined, the material provided should be no more than ten minutes.
- A video consisting of a brief spoken introduction about yourself and the music on the video.
- CV
Application Deadline: November 15, 2024
Selected finalists will be contacted by December 1, 2024.
Send applications to:
Laura Lindeblom
Operations Coordinator
operations@wso.mb.ca
Funded By
