The Tasmanian Symphony Orchestra and the University of Tasmania have announced a new programme for budding conductors, headed by German conductor Johannes Fritzsch. The newly unveiled Australian Conducting Academy Summer School will see students work closely with the TSO, attending orchestra calls and rehearsing with pianists. They will also benefit from a wide range of activities aimed at producing well-rounded musicians, including receiving feedback from different members of the Orchestra, physical fitness classes, and presentations on music education. Open to Australian and New Zealand permanent residents, the programme aims to support promising young conductors and graduates to build careers within Australia and on the international stage.

“The TSO is a special environment – the players are very passionate about training, they are incredibly patient and nurturing of talented young musicians, and have made a huge contribution to the future success of many musicians in Australia and around the world,” said the TSO’s Director of Artistic Planning, Simon Rogers.  “The TSO is already widely known for its training activities nationally and will always seek to be very active in this space. With our new relationship with UTAS, there is an opportunity for us to jointly develop a real niche in this specialist area.”

Limelight spoke to Johannes Fritzsch, who begins his three-year appointment as the TSO’s inaugural Principal Guest Conductor in 2018, about the new initiative.

What do you look for in a young conductor?

Passion for music and arts, deep understanding of music, both in a structural and emotional way.  The physical talent to conduct and exceptional communication skills.

How rare and valuable is this kind of hands-on tutoring for students who want to conduct?

It is crucial for emerging conductors to have the chance to work with a professional orchestra, still in the relatively “protected” environment of a course like our Academy, which includes extensive feedback sessions with the TSO’s section leaders. In addition, we’ll have supporting sessions with a mime artist, a yoga teacher, sessions about how to present education concerts and so on.

What was available to you when you started studying conducting and is it better or worse for young musicians today?

I don’t think it is easier today for young musicians and conductors. And it is almost impossible for me to compare the situation in Australia in 2017 with the beginning of my university studies, which was exactly 40 years ago in Dresden/former East Germany. The training back then was excellent and my aim is to bring as much as possible of my experiences into the design of the new Australian Conducting Academy.

The Australian Conducting Academy Summer School runs from January 25 to February 2, 2018. For more information on how to apply, visit the TSO.