MASTERCLASS FOR CONDUCTORS 2025
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ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS

The special significance of the Masterclass is that it is based on an orchestra of outstanding quality, which is renowned both in Hungary and abroad for its intensive manner and unified culture in play, its high professional and human motivation, and which is available to the participants for practically the entire duration of the course. The focus of the Masterclass is not primarily on developing technical skills, but on acquiring a deep knowledge based on an understanding of all details of the works and their scores. In addition, course leader Gábor Hollerung will also place significant emphasis on the most important functions of conducting, the necessary and unnecessary activities of the conductor, and the mechanisms of communication with the orchestra.

Part of the rehearsals will take place under the direct supervision of the Course Leader, either at the piano or with the orchestra. The aim of the course is to have as many of the active participants as possible gain experience by conducting as many pieces as possible, based on their own work or that of others. All active participants will have the opportunity to perform in the Gala Concert. Movements to be conducted at the concert will be selected by Maestro Hollerung, and two days before the concert, on Friday afternoon and Saturday, everyone will be rehearsing their own programme only. In the final rehearsals before the concert, participants rehearse according to the schedule set by the Course Leader.

Based on the practice of previous years, at the end of the Masterclass the orchestra and the Maestro will select a conductor who will be invited to perform in one of the orchestra's concerts in the next season. The Maestro will announce the name of the invited conductor at the Gala Concert.

Maximum number of active participants: 12

Language of the Masterclass: English
(If necessary, the Course Leader can also provide short explanations in Hungarian and German.)

PROGRAMME

Mozart: Symphony No. 35 in D Major (Haffner)- K. 385
Gustav Mahler: Des Knaben Wunderhorn – excerpts
Bartók: Concerto for Orchestra, Sz. 116

Participants are expected to come prepared in terms of each work.

TIME AND SCHEDULE

12-20 July 2025

12 July, Saturday 15.00 analysis of the works
13 July Sunday 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 rehearsals with two pianos
14 July Monday 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 rehearsals with two pianos
15 July Tuesday 10.00-13.00 rehearsal with two pianos, 14.00-17.00 rehearsal with the orchestra
16 July Wednesday 10.00-11.45 rehearsal with two pianos for passive participants (if any)
                                    12.00-15.00 and 16.00-19.00 rehearsals with the orchestra
17 July Thursday 10.00-11.45 rehearsal with two pianos for passive participants (if any)
                                    12.00-15.00 and 16.00-19.00 rehearsals with the orchestra
18 July Friday 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 rehearsals with the orchestra
19 July Saturday 10.00-13.00 and 14.00-17.00 rehearsals with the orchestra
20 July Sunday 10.00 dress rehearsal and 19.30 Gala Concert

FEES AND DEADLINES

The full participation fee for the Masterclass is as follows:

EUR 2500 (gross) for active participants, or
EUR 400 (gross) for passive participants.

EUR 400 of the gross fee is considered application fee in both cases, and should be paid by the application deadline by both active and passive participants.

Application deadline: 17 April 2025 12:00 CET

In case of those applying to be active participants, the remaining EUR 2100 is considered the participation fee and should be paid by those admitted by the deadline for payment of the participation fee at the latest.

Deadline for payment of the participation fee for active participants: 9 May 2025

The participation fee includes a video recording (conductor's camera) of the (active) participant's concert recording.

Reimbursement Policy:

The application fee will only be reimbursed to those applicants who were not admitted for active participation but do not wish to be passive participants of the Masterclass.

To those who are accepted as active participants but decide not to attend, only the participation fee will be reimbursed.

Travel, accommodation, meals and scores must be arranged for by the participants themselves. Upon request, the organisers can offer some tips for accommodation.

APPLICATION AND ADMISSION PROCESS

Applications will be registered and confirmed within two weeks. Applicants will be informed by 30 April 2025 at the latest whether the Course Leader will accept them as active participants.

How to apply:
Apply here: Redirect Button

A video recording of the applicant conducting will be an advantage when applying.

The application is valid if the application fee is received on the Masterclass account by the application deadline. The organisers of the Masterclass reserve the right to fill the place of any active candidate who does not pay the participation fee by the deadline.

Please transfer the application and participation fee to the following bank account:

Name and address of the beneficiary:

name: Budafoki Dohnányi Ernő Szimfonikus Zenekar Közhasznú Nonprofit Kft.
(Budafok Dohnányi Symphonic Orchestra Non-profit Public Benefit Ltd.)
address: Nagytétényi út 280, Budapest H-1225
Name and address of the beneficiary: OTP BANK Nyrt.
Nádor u. 6, Budapest H-1051
IBAN: HU09 1176 3220 0987 9885 0000 0000
BIC (SWIFT) CODE: OTPVHUHB

The organiser of the Masterclass reserves the right to make minor changes to the conditions if necessary.

If you have any further questions, please contact us (in English, Hungarian, Spanish or Italian languages) using the contact details below.

Information:
Budafok Dohnányi Orchestra
Kerepesi út 29/b, Budapest H-1087
e-mail: [email protected]
tel.: +36 1 322-1488
www.dohnanyiacademy.com

„To my dear conductor friends, As we may already have participated in hundreds of masterclasses, I sincerely recommend the Dohnanyi Academy with Maestro Gábor Hollerung and BDZ, simply because it IS one of a kind.
The insightful interpretation learning experience and wonderful working atmosphere with a super musical orchestra gave me a completely different view on how we should study Haydn, Dvorak and Bartok.
I am grateful to have the opportunity to attend this Academy in 2016, and to those who are going for the 2017 edition, I certainly believe that you will also find it as one of the most real learning experience of our life.”
Yu-An Chang (Taiwan)

„This has been a tremendous week.”
„I felt myself grow as a conductor and become more confident.”
Lee Pophal (USA)

„I’ve been to about 12 masterclasses now, and this is one of the best for learning about classical articulation – I have learned more about classical articulation in a week with the Maestro than perhaps my whole career prior – and Hungarian-specific phrasing traditions.
I feel like I’ve learned a lot from this masterclass…”
„The orchestra is one of the best I’ve worked with.”
„Gabor is a fantastic, patient, and always approachable teacher – a rarity in the business.”
Daniel Whisler (USA)

„The orchestra is like a family, which I’ve never seen anywhere else in my life.”
Yu-An Chang (Taiwan)

„Maestro has a wealth of knowledge and a wonderful orchestra. Thanks for sharing both with us.”
„I will have many warm and fond memories of for many years to come.”
„… the artistry, the abilities, the collective heart, the dedication, the warmth – and the humor(!) – of your fine orchestral members…”
Adrian Head (Australia)

„I have been guided in viewing music more elaborately and been shown the true classical style.”
„Thanks for the opportunity to learn from the Maestro.”
Daniel Michael Galant (USA)

“Loved the orchestras (as well as pianists) openness with all conductors and willingness to help improve the young conductors technical and musical level.”
Kornel Laszlo Thomas (USA/Hungary)