Open call: SA Conductors’ Competition 2024–25

The competition has already yielded five outstanding young winners – Brandon Phillips, Xavier Cloete, Chad Hendricks, Schalk van der Merwe and Jacobus de Jager.

The sixth competition is open to South Africans not older than 33 on 1 January. Finalists will conduct one of the symphony movements from symphonies in the previous round as well as movement from a concerto. The competition will be presided over by Arjan Tien, professor of conducting at the Conservatoire van Amsterdam and Conservatorium Maastricht in The Netherlands. He will coach all the candidates in masterclasses in August/September and those who proceed in 2025 as well.

Travel and accommodation

• All competitors who do not live within a 100km radius of Cape Town will have their accommodation paid for the duration of the first round.
• Those selected for subsequent rounds/finals will also have their accommodation provided for the duration of their required stay if they live outside a 100 km radius of the city.
• Other competitors are responsible for their own transport costs to Cape Town but transport will be provided from the accommodation to the venue and back.

Criteria for adjudication

The aim of the competition is to identify and promote young South Africans who will be the conductors of the future. Above passion and charisma, the initiative is looking for the following traits, or the potential to expand them:

Musical skills

• Interpretation and understanding of the score and style.
• Knowledge of performance practice of the repertoire.
• General understanding of the context of the score i.e. musical/cultural history.
• Basic knowledge of orchestral repertoire, orchestration techniques, transposing instruments, etc.

Communication skills

• Non-verbal skills, baton technique, left hand expression, facial expression and body language.
• Knowledge of orchestration, made evident by means of communication (verbal and non-verbal).
• The ability to listen, react and anticipate during rehearsals and performance.
• To use the above to musically facilitate the musicians and inspire them.

Personal skills

• Understanding of group psychology of the orchestra and how to deal with that.
• Self-confidence and assertiveness.
• Musical and social integrity.
• To use all of the above, and above all, to make music.

Written and aural examination

• General knowledge which will include musical terms (German, Italian, French, English), stylistic periods (from baroque to contemporary), composers (periods) and main symphonic repertoire (from classical to contemporary).
• Score preparation insight which will include analysis (Sonata form, Lied form, Rondo form), transpositions and instrument theory and personal process for score study.
• Aural training which includes rhythmical, interval, melodic and harmonic dictation.
• A written personal motivation.

Further rules

The decisions of the organisers and of the jury are final. Applicants must agree to abide by all the above regulations. Should the jury decide that the necessary standards have not been met, the organisers retain the right not to announce a winner. The organisers reserve the right of radio and television broadcast or for inclusion on any CD/DVD at any stage. Participants will receive no financial compensation for TV, radio or video recordings and broadcasts of the competition, including international coverage. The winner will not be eligible to take part in future SA Conductors’ competitions.

How to apply

Applications must include:

• The completed application form.
• A photocopy or scanned version of SA identity document.
• CV.
• Copies of academic qualifications.
• Any other documents providing proof of past work as musician and/or conductor.
• A recent high-res headshot.
• There is no admission fee to enter the competition. No late entries will be accepted.
• All documents submitted as part of the entry will not be returned by the competition office. Applicants should not send original documents. They may be required to present their original identity document(s) for verification at a later stage in the competition.

Applications should fill in this application form and submit via email at shirley@cpo.org.za before 31 May.

Applications can be submitted by hand at the below physical address:

6th South African Conductors’ Competition
Cape Town Philharmonic Orchestra
5th Floor, Artscape Theatre Centre
DF Malan Street, Foreshore
Cape Town, 8001

View the original call here.