Danish-Australian conductor Alexander Colding Smith is one of three finalists at this year’s 15th Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition. He’s in the running to receive a cash prize of £15,000 (approximately $AU 26,000) and the coveted opportunity of becoming Assistant Conductor of the acclaimed London Symphony Orchestra for up to one year. Previous competition winners include François-Xavier Roth, now the LSO’s Principal Guest Conductor.

Alexander Colding Smith

Colding Smith and his fellow finalists Felix Mildenberger (Germany) and Harry Ogg (UK) will draw lots for the grand final in order to determine running order and repertoire. Pieces on the bill are the Prelude to Wagner’s Die Meistersinger von Nürnberg, Kodály’s Dances of Galánta, and Prokofiev’s Second Violin Concerto. Jury member Vadim Repin will be the soloist for the Prokofiev, the first time in the competition’s history that a finalist will conductor a work that features a soloist. To take place at the Barbican, the final is open to the public and will be live streamed worldwide on Medici TV.

As well as Repin, the judging panel includes conductors Sian Edwards, Tadaaki Otaka and Yan Pascal Tortelier, as well as LSO Principal Cor Anglais Christine Pendrill...