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Assistant Conductor Position and Conducting Week 2023

Conducting week for young conductors with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under the direction of chief conductor Michael Sanderling. At the end of the course, one of the participants will be elected for the new position of assistant conductor for one year.

The conducting week workshop will take place from 18 to 22 September 2023 in the Orchesterhaus of the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester in Lucerne/Kriens. The workshop is designed to give young conductors the opportunity to work with a professional orchestra at the highest level and to gain valuable practical experience. Participants will conduct works from the classical and early romantic periods. The course will end with a public concert on 22 September 2023, conducted by selected participants. A maximum of five candidates who can actively participate will be admitted to the workshop next to passive participants who are welcome to follow the course. The age limit for applying is 35 years.

1st of June 2023
Online-application deadline

18th until 22nd of September 2023
Workshop in the Orchesterhaus of Luzerner Sinfonieorchester

22nd of September 2023
Final public concert, conducted by selected participants.

Conducting week repertoire

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart
The Magic Flute, KV 620 – Overture

Ludwig van Beethoven
Symphony Nr. 8, op. 93 – 1st movement

Anton Bruckner
Symphony nr. 6 – 1st movement

Antonín Dvořák
Cello Concerto, op. 104 – 2nd and 3rd movement

After the workshop Luzerner Sinfonieorchester intends to offer the assistant conductor position to one of the participants. Please note that only applicants who are residing either in Switzerland or EU/EFTA countries can be considered. The choice will be made by artistic committee led by Michael Sanderling.

The conducting week workshop and the assistant position are made possible by a private Swiss foundation.

All information about the registration
Online-application deadline: 1st of June 2023

Required material and documents for applying:

Each applicant should provide a video recording with two pieceson their own choice where the angle of the camera is directed on the applicant from the orchestra side. The video does not need to be professional but needs to be in sufficient quality (both sound and image). The minimum length of the video should be 10 minutes. The recording can be done either in concert, rehearsal or lesson situation but should avoid speaking and silence as much as possible.
Additionally, each applicant should provide a short video statement where they briefly introduce themselves and express their motivation for conducting in general and their interest in the position of the assistant conductor by Luzerner Sinfonieorchester. The statement should be recorded either in German or English.
Both videos should be uploaded to Muvac and be named as “Luzerner Sinfonieorchester workshop application”.
Scan of Passport or ID-Card
Scan of residence permit (Applicants, who don’t hold citizenship either in Switzerland or EU or EFTA)
Biography (in text form)
Photoof the applicant (in highest possible resolution)
Contact details

All young conductors up to age 35 years (incl) who have already sufficient conducting experience, are interested both in the workshop and the assistant conductor position by Luzerner Sinfonieorchester for the season 2023/24. Applicants are required to hold residence in Switzerland or one of the EU/EFTA states and have to fulfill the regulatory requirements for working as an assistant conductor in Switzerland.
The workshop is generously supported by a Swiss non-profit foundation. Therefore, all the participation and accommodation costs in Lucerne will be covered by the organizer. Also, the travel costs to Lucerne will be covered, up to 500 CHF per person, upon presenting the receipts.

The organizer does not cover the catering, nor the needed scores for the candidates nor the expenses for the video applications.
Every candidate will have at least two longer sessions (minimum 2 hours altogether) with the Luzerner Sinfonieorchester under the mentoring of Michael Sanderling. Each candidate is required to be prepare the whole repertoire of the course on the highest professional level possible and will be told shortly beforehand what piece(s) will they be required to conduct at the session(s). All the candidates, both active and passive, need to be present at all the sessions during the whole course.

After the third session with the orchestra, some of the candidates will be chosen to conduct the final concert on the 22nd of September.
In case of the successful course in September 2023, one participant will be offered a paid position as assistant conductor for one year. The starting time and exact projects where her/his presence is required will be negotiated after the official proposal.
One of the main tasks of an assistant conductor will be supporting the every-day work of the chief conductor Michael Sanderling (attending rehearsals, preparing the programs and scores, helping at the recording sessions etc). Also, some projects with guest conductors might be included upon request.

Secondly, the assistant conductor will be offered a possibility to conduct a concert at the KKL in the upcoming season, as well as working with the orchestra within the season – carrying through sectionals, possibly jumping in short notice in case of cancellations etc.