The esteemed Conductors Institute of South Carolina, directed by Dr. Donald Portnoy, now in its 31th year, is on the must-do list for both aspiring and experienced conductors. Students of the summer Institute come to the University of South Carolina from around the U.S. and abroad to receive instruction from eminent conductors and composers with vast experience in the commercial, academic, and professional worlds of music.

Students of the Institute have individual daily podium, conduct an orchestra of professional musicians, and focus on enhancing conducting skills to achieve a greater command of their orchestral forces. Veteran conductors share their knowledge of the competitive field of conducting and offer constructive feedback. An evening lecture series delivers sessions in score study and other topics necessary in today’s job market.

The daily podium sessions take place at the Koger Center for the Arts June 8–June 20 from 9:00 a.m. to noon and from 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m., and they are open to the public to observe. The community can get a first-hand view of the skills and complexities of effective conducting.

According to the institute’s director, Donald Portnoy, the University of South Carolina welcomes a large class each year, and conducting participants benefit from the faculty’s more than 300 years of combined experience this summer.

Conducting participants have an exceptional opportunity to work directly with master conducting teachers and composers. Among this summer’s distinguished guest faculty are conductor Peter Jaffe (Stockton Symphony), composer and conductor Victoria Bond (also pre-concert lecturer for the New York Philharmonic and the Metropolitan Opera), conductor Maurice Peress (former assistant to Leonard Bernstein and professor of conducting at Queens College), composer Fang Man of the University of South Carolina, conductor Paul Vermel (Northwest Symphony Orchestra), composer Gordon (Dick) Goodwin (Distinguished Professor Emeritus, University of South Carolina), conductor Diane Wittry (Allentown Symphony), and conductor Donald Portnoy (Brevard Philharmonic and the University of South Carolina Symphony, and recipient of the Elizabeth O’Neil Verner Award and the Ditson Conductor’s Award).

Observe conductor training 

June 8–20, Monday through Saturday 
9:00 a.m. to noon, and 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. 
Koger Center for the Arts
Open to the public, free of charge

Conductors will conduct the following repertoire:

June 8–11 String Orchestra Repertoire (session I)

David Diamond - Rounds
Mozart - Divertimento, K. 138
Victoria Bond - Soul of a Nation (for solo violin and strings)
Arensky Variations on a Theme by Tchaikovsky, op. 35a

June 12–16 Chamber Orchestra Repertoire (session II)


Beethoven - Symphony No. 7, op. 92
Mendelssohn - Symphony No. 3, op. 56 (Scottish) 
Mozart - Selected Arias from Cosi fan tutte and Marriage of Figaro
Fang Man - Lavender (for soprano and chamber orchestra)

June 17–20 Symphony Orchestra Repertoire (session III)


Tchaikovsky - Capriccio Italien, op. 45
Sibelius - Symphony No. 2 in D Major, op. 43
Brahms - Symphony No. 2, op. 73
Gordon (Dick) Goodwin - Two Low Country Hauntings

Learn more about the Conductors Institute of South Carolina