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.
2023/2024 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 and provide the selected conductors with the opportunity to work with a major Canadian orchestra under the guidance and mentorship of Music Director Daniel Raiskin. The 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
October 5 & 6, 2023
REPERTOIRE
Nielsen: Symphony No.2, op.16 (The Four Temperaments)
Mozart: Concerto No.21 in C major for Piano & Orchestra, K.467
III. Allegro vivace assai
FORMAT
Each candidate will participate in a one-hour masterclass session with Music Director Daniel Raiskin and the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra. Maestro Raiskin will introduce each finalist to the orchestra and invite them to say a few words before their session begins. A 15-minute debrief with Daniel Raiskin, selected WSO musicians, and WSO’s conducting team will take place following the session.
On the final session on Day 2, 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 (3222/4331/Timp+1p/hp/ strings).
SCHEDULE
DAY 1:
Masterclass:
10:00 am – 12:00 pm
A two-hour Masterclass session for all candidates with Daniel Raiskin, Julian Pellicano and Monica Chen and a pianist on Nielsen 2nd Symphony.
Orchestra Session #1: Each candidate works individually with the orchestra in a masterclass format, followed by musician feedback.
1:30 – 2:30 pm: Candidate #1
3:00 – 4:00 pm: Candidate #2
Post-session Events:
5:00 – 6:30 pm
Dinner with Daniel Raiskin, Julian Pellicano and Monica Chen
WSO Evening Rehearsal:
7:00 – 9:30 pm
Monitor a Community Celebration rehearsal featuring numerous local artists performing with the WSO.
DAY 2:
Orchestra Session #2: Each candidate works individually with the orchestra in a masterclass format, followed by musician feedback.
10:00 – 11:00 am: Candidate #3
11:30 am – 12:30 pm: Candidate #4
Open Rehearsal:
1:30 – 4:00 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 & ACCOMODATIONS
Return air travel reimbursement of 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
Julian Pellicano, Associate Conductor
Monica Chen, 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.
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.
- A current CV.
- Application Deadline: August 1, 2023.
- Finalists will be announced on August 22, 2023.
- All applicants will be notified of the results by August 25, 2023.
SEND APPLICATIONS TO:
James Manishen, Artistic Advisor
jmanishen@wso.mb.ca
Funded By
