The 2017 Mahler Conducting Fellowship

MahlerFest XXX: May 12-21, 2017

The Colorado MahlerFest, Kenneth Woods- Artistic Director, is proud to announce the second annual Mahler Conducting Fellowship program for outstanding young professional conductors.

Since 2016, every spring Colorado MahlerFest invites 2-3 fellows to participate in the festival as assistant conductors. Fellows attend daily score study and seminar sessions with the Artistic Director, observe and assist the MahlerFest Tonmeister in the recording booth, work with guest lecturers and speakers and conduct in a public masterclass.

Faculty-

Kenneth Woods, Artistic Director- Colorado MahlerFest, Principal Conductor- English Symphony Orchestra, Founder and Director- Rose City International Conductors’ Workshop. Woods is one of today’s most influential and prolific recording artists and a leading conducting pedagogue who as taught at conservatories, festivals and universities across the USA, Canada and UK. He will be working with the Fellows on a daily basis throughout the festival on score study, technique and career development.

David Matthews, Visiting Composer-in-Residence. David Matthews is one of the preeminent composers of our time. His catalogue of works includes nine symphonies, thirteen string quartets and dozens of other works. He is also an avid arranger and transcriber of the works of other composers. His writings on the music of Gustav Mahler are widely published and admired and, together with his brother Colin and Berthold Goldschmidt, he helped prepare the final, definitive version (“Cooke 3”) of Deryck Cooke’s Performing Version of Mahler’s 10th Symphony.

Repertoire

As assistant conductors:

Gustav Mahler- Symphony no. 10 (Performing version by Deryck Cooke pub. Faber)

Edward Elgar arr. David Matthews- String Quartet (arr. for String Orchestra)

For the public masterclass:

Gustav Mahler arr. Arnold Schoenberg- Lieder eines fahrenden Gesellen (with singer)

Application (closed for 2017)

Please apply via email to mahlerfellowship@mahlerfest.org

Include a CV, a brief cover letter, two recommendations and a link to a recent video of your conducting. Applicants are also invited to share examples of their writing about Mahler, whether analytical, musicological or practical in nature.

DEADLINE FOR APPLICATIONS- Closed.

Applicants will be informed of their status by 15 March, 2017

Tuition and fees

Participation in the Mahler Fellowship Program is generously supported by Colorado MahlerFest and our educational concerts. All students accepted will receive a full scholarship worth $1,925.

Where possible, the Festival will arrange for Fellows to homestay with friends of the festival. Fellows are responsible for their own travel to and from Boulder, Colorado and their own daily expenses while at the Festival. Fellows are expected to provide their own scores using the editions specified above.

What past Mahler Conducting Fellows say about the program:

“Thank you so much again for inviting me to participate in the MahlerFest as a conducting fellow. I am really, really grateful to have been invited and so happy that I attended. I learned an amazing amount and was very inspired by the music, music-making, and all of your insights on the podium and in your instruction. It was a very full and stimulating ten days and it exceeded my expectations. Ken, with all of the responsibilities you had throughout the festival, you really went out of your way to include the fellows and make the experience worthwhile. It was also a lot of fun to get to know you and Boon and Michael and hang out. It was a great team.” Francis Scully, 2016 Mahler Conducting Fellow

“As an opportunity for conductors it was innovative and pretty unparalleled in my experience. I got so much both musically and as a conductor. A particular highlight for me was – with your encouragement and support – finally letting go of the idea that ‘I have to keep them going’. This freed me to be able to trust – myself, them, space to really listen, guide and show where necessary and just make music together. It’s so simple in the end…” Michael Young, 2016 Mahler Conducting Fellow

“Colorado MahlerFest has been an incredible experience for me, and the breathtaking scenery of Boulder is the perfect setting for Mahler’s music. Its unique blend of activities, such as daily seminar sessions with Artistic Director Kenneth Woods, rehearsals, films and symposium were both stimulating and thought-provoking. I have learnt a tremendous amount from everyone during the week, and am truly inspired by their passion and love for Mahler.” Boon Hua Lien, 2016 Mahler Conducting Fellow