[Report] Emerging Conductors Who Will Lead the Classical Music World Beyond Performers Are Coming

National Symphony Orchestra 2022 Conductor Workshop On-site
Three Days of Diverse Training from Musical Interpretation to Personal Marketing
Business Courses Introduced to Support Korean Conductors' Global Leap Draw Attention

David Reiland (left), Artistic Director of the National Symphony, is advising conductor Kim Jisoo on conducting techniques during the National Symphony Orchestra Conductor Workshop held on the 29th at the N Studio rehearsal room in the Seoul Arts Center, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Kim was selected as an outstanding participant in the workshop. Photo by National Symphony Orchestra

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Heeyoon] As the volume swells and the melody enters the development section of the first movement of Tchaikovsky's Symphony No. 6 "Path?tique," the eyes of about 40 orchestra members in the rehearsal room simultaneously turn to the fingertips of the young conductor. Amid the intense brass sounds, as the conductor's movements become busier, making eye contact with the members, artistic director Davit Ryland, who was watching from beside the podium, stops the performance and asks why such a gesture was made. When the young conductor explains his interpretation of the piece, Ryland nods and offers some advice. Soon, the conductor regains composure, focuses all his attention on his fingertips, and begins leading the performance again.

On the 29th of last month, at the rehearsal room on the 2nd floor of N Studio, Seoul Arts Center in Seocho-gu, Seoul, the same orchestra performance was repeated every 30 minutes. This was because four participants?Kim Jisoo, Park Haewon, Ahn Yeoryeong, and Hwang Yeongmuk?who took part in the National Symphony Orchestra's first conductor workshop program of the year, took turns stepping onto the podium to conduct the same piece. Their conducting was filmed in real time, and after completing all sessions, they reviewed the videos in the evening for one-on-one mentoring on their conducting and interpretation of the piece. Although repeating the same piece could be tiring, the orchestra members smiled, saying it was a “fun and refreshing experience,” and the participants concentrated fully to internalize Director Ryland's advice.

Davitt Rylandt (left), Artistic Director of the National Symphony, is observing conductor Ahn Yeoryeong's conducting technique at the National Symphony Orchestra Conductor Workshop held on the 29th at the N Studio rehearsal room in the Seoul Arts Center, Seocho-gu, Seoul. Photo by National Symphony Orchestra

Although interest in classical music is higher than ever due to domestic performers' consecutive wins in international competitions, the conducting field has shown particular weakness. While instruments require lessons and individual practice, conducting is an area that presupposes an orchestra, making it difficult to practice freely and limiting opportunities to assess one's skills. There are 50 piano competitions listed under the International Federation of Music Competitions under UNESCO, but only six conducting competitions. Therefore, the conductor workshop participants unanimously said, “This workshop is a precious opportunity to conduct an orchestra directly.”

This workshop also attracted attention by planning a separate business session outside the stage in addition to the conducting program. The program, led by cultural arts manager Rachel Boron?who has nurtured emerging conductors including discovering British star conductor Daniel Harding?covered contracts and negotiations with management and personal marketing strategies for conductors. It drew a large crowd, including the four participants and various observers aspiring to become conductors.

Rachel Boron, an arts manager lecturing on business outside the stage. Photo by National Symphony Orchestra

Boron emphasized, “Management of instrumental performers is limited, but managing conductors who lead orchestras is a different area in terms of repertoire scope and character. Since professional orchestra conducting experience is essential for training conductors, workshops and competitions like this program need to become more numerous and diverse.”

Kim Jisoo, selected as an outstanding participant in this workshop, introduced himself as someone who switched to conducting after being captivated by the orchestra's melody while majoring in vocal music. Having completed a master's degree in orchestral conducting at the Peabody Conservatory in the United States, he said about this workshop, “Conducting lessons vary depending on the teacher, but in the U.S., they often guide indirectly out of respect for interpretation methods. However, Artistic Director Ryland immediately pointed out technical shortcomings, which helped me understand right away.” He added, “He respects the musicality of each of the four participants while pointing out ways to bring out details in the score, which has been very helpful.”

On this day, the National Symphony awarded Kim Jisoo, selected as an outstanding participant, a prize of 2.5 million won. Having held Korea's first conducting competition last year, the National Symphony plans to actively support the training of domestic conductors and their advancement into the global stage by linking the competition held every three years with workshop programs.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.