ICWF 2024 Lviv November

What we do

Whether you are highly trained conductor, a promising student, or an avid amateur and whether you have a job or aspire to be a Music Director of a profesional, school, or community orchestra, our workshops offer many opportunities to improve as a conductor. We believe the best learning comes from studying standard repertoire from world class faculty and observing your colleagues struggle through the same challenges in an intensive and immersive, yet non-competitive, professional, and supportive atmosphere. For practical experience, all participants conduct both full orchestra and piano sextet. Subjects studied include conducting technique, interpretation, score study, analysis, rehearsal technique, stage deportment, and musician interaction. All participants receive equal opportunity in a completely transparent organization.

Details

Dates: 
• General Dates - November 27-December 2, 2024
• Concert 1 - November 29, 2024 (Schubert Unfinished Symphony; Dvorak Symphony #7)
• Concert 2 - December 1, 2024 (Mozart Symphonies #39 and 35; Beethoven Symphony #7)
Repertoire subject to change

Location: Lviv, Ukraine

Host Orchestra: Lviv National Philharmonic

Basic details for this workshop:

• Six 3-hour full orchestra rehearsal sessions
• Two 2-hour full orchestra dress rehearsals
• Two Public Performances
• Two extra sessions to conduct your choise of programmed repertoire
• Each conductor will get approximately 160 minutes of rehearsal time with full orchestra not including the performance.
• Two scores study sessions
• 90 minutes individual sessions for video review and rehearsal planning
• Hotel accommodation is not included in the tuition, but participants may select the comfortable, affordable, and convenient hotel option arranged by ICWF at reduced rates which includes breakfast.
• Arranged round trip car transfer from RZE (Rzeszow, Poland, to Lviv)
• Farewell dinner
• Professional concert and rehearsal hall setting for all sessions
• All sessions will be Digitally Recorded in High Definition and concert quality audio, and conductors will have ample opportunity to view session recordings. At the end of each conducting session or day, participants will receive a digital file of that session. Participants must provide his or her own storage media (1Tb USB 3.0 hard drive is most recommended).
• Conductors will also receive multi-camera produced concert video of both performances.
  
  

Levels of Participation

• One level of participation 
• Workshop is limited to 6 conductors
• Each conductor will approximately 160 minutes with full orchestra in rehearsal
• Each conductor will be assigned and conduct a total of three symphonic movements on the concerts.
• Each conductor will have an additional 25 minutes free time to conduct non-assigned reperoire from the performances.
   
  

Faculty

• Benjamin Loeb (Artistic Director, ICWF)

Repertoire

• Concert 1: Schubert Unfinished Symphony; Dvorak Symphony #7
• Concert 2: Mozart Symphonies #29 and 35; Beethoven Symphony #7

Repertoire is subject to change

Orchestra Sessions

• Conductors will have approximately 160 minutes to prepare their assigned performance repertoire.
• All orchestra sessions will take place on the historical Lviv National Philharmonic concert stage.
• Conductors will have an additional 25 minutes to record non-assigned program repertoire.
  
  

Sextet Sessions

• There will be no Sextet sessions at this workshop.

Concerts

At this workshop, we will have two public performances with live audience presenting the repertoire from the workshop. The orchestral music in these concerts will be led by the conducting participants.

Based on the participants' preferences and the advice of the ICWF faculty and advisors, each conductor will be assigned in advance three movements for performance with the host orchestra (Lviv National Philharmonic). Each conductor will have approximately 250 minutes of podium time for rehearsal in addition to the time conducting three selections in concert. Conductors will have two orchestra sessions on December 2 for free choice so participants can record repertoire they will not conduct on the concert. The exact rehearsal schedule may be created based on the difficulty of preparation of the individual movements, but conductors will have basically equitable time.

Each concert will be recorded by a professional video crew with live production and a multi-camera setup as well as a dedicated conductor camera. The concerts may be livestreamed. Conductors will receive video of the full concert as well as the conductor camera footage for their individual performance and will have full rights for use for study, applications and auditions, and non-commercial rebroadcast and streaming.

See the detailed schedule for the Concert week schedules.

Concert 1: November 29, 2024 - Schubert Unfinished Symphony; Dvorak Symphony #7

Concert 2: December 1, 2024 - Mozart Symphonies #29 and 35; Beethoven Symphony #7

Fees:
Conductor Participation - $3800

Discussion Sessions

• Generally at the end of each day, the faculty will hold a half hour discussion session to recap the issues discovered in that day's sessions.
• Participants will have scheduled one-on-one sessions for video review and rehearsal strategy.
• Some discussion sessions will be scheduled around topics such as rehearsal technique, score study, career paths, and more.
• Faculty are quite available for ad hoc individual and group discussions.

Chamber Concerts

There will be no Chamber Concerts at this workshop.

Colleagues and Network

One of the great benefits of the workshop is the opportunity to grow and develop a supportive network of conductor colleagues. These relationships can very often lead to professional and academic opportunities as well as lifelong friendships. While we can't claim credit for every success of our ICWF alumni, we are proud of their accomplishments and know that their experience at the workshops provided some positive learning that they used to further their career and love for music. 

Here is what some of our past participants have said about their ICWF experience.

Some of our past participants now hold or have held positions such as Fresno Symphony Music Director,  El Paso Symphony Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra, Charleston Symphony Orchestra, Illinois Symphony Orchestra, London Philharmonic, Dallas Symphony Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Detroit Symphony Orchestra, Knoxville Symphony, Utah Symphony Associate Conductor, Norwalk Symphony Music Director, San Diego Symphony, Amarillo Symphony Music Director, National Symphony Assistant Conductor,  Santa Cruz Symphony Orchestra Music Director, Memphis Symphony Assistant Conductor, Buffalo Philharmonic Associate Conductor, Kansas Symphony Assistant Conductor,  Symphony Orchestra Northwest Arkansas Assistant Conductor, and many more.  Our past participants have also been accepted into the most prestigious conducting programs in the world including at The Juilliard School, the Curtis Institute of Music, the Peabody Institute, Rice University, University of Illinois, University of Michigan, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, New England Conservatory, and many more.

Accommodations

This year, hotel accommodations are not included in the tuition fee, but we have made excellent and convenient arrangements with the Modern ART Hotel. If you would prefer to find other accommodations, you are free to do so. ICWF will still provide a group lunch (or one meal). 

Modern ART Hotel

• Modern, Single rooms
• Air-conditioning
• Breakfast included
• 4 minute walk from the Lviv Philharmonic
• Free Wifi
• Restaurant on site
• $500 for 7 nights single occupancy (special rate). Hotel check in is November 26 and check out is December 3.
• Double room occupancy available for $350 additional
• Additional single room nights are $55/night which include breakfast only.

Guests accompanying conductors will also be provided lunch and free access to all public ICWF events.

Travel to Lviv - Safety

It is true that Ukraine is currently at war with Russia. However, based on recent experiences traveling to Ukraine and the advice of high level US State Department officials, it is possible and relatively safe to travel to Lviv since it is all the way in the west, close to the Polish border, and far from the war zone.

Travel to Lviv is more complicated than in the past, but it is possible. Because of strong relationships with the orchestra, we have a system that will make travel to Lviv as smooth and easy as possible. Currently, commercial air travel is not allowed into Ukraine. The easiest flight to take is to fly to Rzeszow, Poland (RZE). We will drive from RZE to the border, which we will walk through. One the other side of the border, a new car will be waiting for us (same company) which will drive us to our destination. The entire drive from RZE to Lviv takes approximately 2 1/2 hours. Are drivers are skilled and have strong connections at the airport and at the two immiogration offices. ICWF will arrange group travel by car. If you are unable to join the group, ICWF will arrange a car through this service at your cost ($200/trip). 

If you feel you need travel insurance, ICWF can recommend good plans. There are some travel requirements for entry to to Ukraine including proof of health care coverage. ICWF will provide all necessary information.

Detailed schedule

Fees and deadlines

• Application fee $50
  
• Performance Participation $3800
• Hotel (optional): $500 and $80/night for extra nights (~50% for double occupancy)
• No application deadline. Applications will be processed within 24 hours and acceptances will be based on space available with priority given to past ICWF participants.
• Two weeks after notification $500 non-refundable tuition deposit due. Generally, applications are processed within two weeks of receipt.
• Tuition remainder is due six weeks after acceptance or by November 1, 2024, whichever is earliest.
• Late payment of tuition deposit or tuition payment may result in loss of spot.
• If a conductor must cancel his or her spot, the tuition deposit and/or tuition will be refunded according to the schedule below:
  • Application fees and tuition deposits are non-refundable.
  • 100% refundable if requested before September 21, 2024
  • 50% refundable if requested before October 5, 2024
  • non-refundable after October 5, 2024 unless a suitable replacement is found for your spot.
    

Fees must be paid according to schedule in US$.

APPLY NOW for the CONDUCTING Program

All tuition fees paid by credit card will have a 3.5% service fee added.

Online payments preferred, but US checks (free) and bank transfer ($45 fee) will be accepted. The application is not complete and will not be processed until the payment is received. 

Scholarships and Financial Aid

Arts Education and Performance Management Service

The International Conducting Workshop and Festival is a project of Arts Education and Performance Management Service (www.AEPMS.org). This means that the ICWF can accept grants, accept tax-deductible donations, and carry on other activities under the tax-exempt status of their sponsor. To help you raise money for yourself, AEPMS will create a "Project" which is your participation at ICWF. As a Project of AEPMS, we may accept donations that support the project which would help you cover your cost. This will allow you to offer your patrons (including parents or other family members) the opportunity to get a tax deduction for their support. In the last twenty years the ICWF granted over $150,000 in tuition scholarships through the generous help of the Joel Fan Foundation ArtMatch and now we will be doing essentiallt the same thing with Arts Education and Performance Management Service.

Technically, you can act as a fundraising agent for AEPMS and raise money from your own network of support for your tuition scholarship. Anyone you know who would like to help you would then send their support to Arts Education and Performance Management Service and direct it to the project we create for your participation. You would be responsilbe for covering whatever costs were not raised through donations (which might be everything or nothing depending on how much you raise.) 

AEPMS Process:

1. Make all checks to "Arts Education and Performance Management Services" or "AEPMS" and in the memo line, write in the project name or the conductor's name.
2. To enable the correct accounting of the donation, the sponsor should say exactly the following in a cover letter:
   To Arts Education and Performance Management Services:
   I am making this donation to the Arts Education and Performance Management Services in support of the International Conducting Workshop and Festival Project [CONDUCTOR NAME].
   Sincerely,
   [Name of Sponsor]
   [Address of Sponsor]
   [Email Address of Sponsor]
3. Mail checks and letters to:
   Arts Education and Performance Management Services
   3513 Cabriolet Ct
   Plano TX 75023
   USA
4. The receipt of the donation will be acknowledged by AEPMS and the amount of the donation will be applied toward the project of your participation.

The Arts Education and Performance Management Services is a registered 501(3)(c) non-profit corporation and qualifies for tax-deductible contributions.

Lviv Philharmonic

Historically, in every city - whether it is Kyiv, Warsaw, Krakow or Berlin - Philharmonic holds a special place. Lviv Philharmonic has a rich history that goes back to different periods - Austrian, Polish, Soviet and Ukrainian.

The Lviv Philharmonic Orchestra (Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine) was officially established on September 27, 1902 as, on this day, the first concert of the newly formed orchestra took place in the Philharmonic Theater of Count Stanislav Skarbko (presently known as the Ukrainian National Academic Theater of Drama named after Maria Zankovetska). The Principal Conductor of the orchestra was Ludwik Vitezslav Czelianski (1870 – 1931). Henryk Jarecki and Henryk Meltzer-Szczawinski worked alongside him as conductors of the orchestra.

In 2006, the Lviv National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra was awarded the title of Academic. In 2018, with the participation of this orchestra, during the author’s concert of Myroslav Skoryk, the Lviv Philharmonic received the status of “national”. Since September 2020, the Philharmonic is named after this outstanding Ukrainian composer.

The Lviv National Philharmonic Orchestra of Ukraine is a regular participant in international festivals, in particular, the International Festival of Musical Art “Virtuosos”, the International Festival of Contemporary Music “Contrasts”, the Ukrainian-Polish Festival “Discovering Paderewski” and others. The Academic Symphony Orchestra of Lviv National Philharmonic is one of the largest in Ukraine and is well known far beyond its borders.

Read more here

COVID-19

Regarding COVID-19, we will be required to adhere to all European and Czech restrictions. We will also try to follow CDC guidelines.  All ICWF participants must be vaccinated and proof of vaccination may be required. 

If the workshop must be canceled due to the continue pandemic, all tuition fees will be returned. However, we cannot reimburse for any travel expenses or to return the application fee. We strongly suggest that all participants purchase travel insurance that specifically covers COVID-related cancellations.

Application

Applications are accepted now and will continue until all spots are filled. 

Apply Now for CONDUCTING Program