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Summer Conducting Workshop

USC School of Music’s summer conducting workshop with tracks in orchestral, choral and wind conducting is scheduled for June 22-25, 2025.

Clinicians for 2025

Dr. Cormac Cannon
 Director of Bands, University of South Carolina

Dr. Alicia W. Walker
Director of Choral Studies, University of South Carolina

Dr. Scott Weiss
Sarah Bolick Smith Distinguished Professor of Music/Director of Orchestras, University of South Carolina

Kevin Sedatole
Guest Clinican
Director of Bands, MIchigan State University

Proposed Schedule

(subject to change)

Sunday, June 22

4:30 p.m.-5:45 p.m.                 Open Rehearsal, Wind and Choral

 6:00 p.m.                                     Welcome/Orientation; All areas, Room 006 

7:00 p.m.                                      Dinner (optional)/Place TBA

Monday-Wednesday, June 23-25, 9:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m.   

9:00 a.m.-11:30 a.m.                   Conducting Masterclasses
11:30 a.m.-1:00 p.m.                    Lunch Break (on your own)
1:00 p.m.-4:00 p.m.                      Conducting Masterclasses
4:00 p.m.-5:00 p.m.                      Plenary Q&A
Evening social gatherings on Monday and Tuesday

  Tuesday, June 24

6:00 p.m.                                           Group Dinner (optional)

Registration will open December 2024.

Conductor Track

Conductors: $475
South Carolina Teachers/Conductors: $425
Deposit: $200 due at registration. Balance due June 3.
Conductor spots are open until filled.
Cancelation policy: Refunds will be given only if a suitable replacement is found to fill the vacant spot.

Auditor

$225 (Auditors participate in all sessions but receive no active podium time.)
Deposit: $100 due at registration. Balance due June 2. 
Cancelation policy: Non-refundable after June 10.


Tracks

Conductors may pursue one or two of the following:
 Choral Conducting
Orchestral Conducting
Wind Conducting
                   If choosing single track the conductor will have podium sessions in that area twice per day.
                  If choosing dual tracks the conductor will have podium sessions in each area once per day.

Choral

Choral conductors will conduct an ensemble of singers with a pianist.

Registered Participants will have access to a Zoom meeting prior to the workshop.
The topic will be score study of the music for the workshop.
June 12                 Choral Conducting                       7:00-8:00 p.m. EST
Links will be distributed after registration.

Please prepare two pieces from the larger excerpted works, and three of the small forms.

Larger Works, excerpts:
Britten                   Rejoice in the Lamb (pp. 1-13; 21-40)
                                 Boosey & Hawkes

Mozart                   Solemn Vespers, K.339, Laudate Pueri        
                                  Public domain

Lauridsen            Mid-Winter Songs, No. 1      
                                 Opus Music Publishers                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                Small Forms:
Bruckner: Locus Iste, public domain
Byrd: Ave Verum Corpus, public domain
Finzi: My Spirit Sang All Day, Boosey & Hawkes
Hagen: Already Always; https://graphitepublishing.com/product/already-always/
Mendelssohn: He Watching Over Israel, public domain

Orchestra

Orchestral conductors will conduct a sextet consisting of a string quintet and a pianist covering the woodwind and brass parts. 

Registered Participants will have access to a Zoom meeting prior to the workshop.
The topic will be score study of the music for the workshop.
June 14                 Orchestral Conducting              Noon-1:00 p.m. EST
Links will be distributed after registration.

Participants may select from the following repertoire:
Dvořák - Serenade for Strings
Florence Price - Andante Moderato
Warlock - Capriol Suite

Wind

Wind conductors will conduct a chamber wind ensemble and full concert band. 

Registered Participants will have access to a Zoom meeting prior to the workshop.
The topic will be score study of the music for the workshop.
June 10                 Wind Conducting                           8:00-9:00 p.m. EST
Links will be distributed after registration.

Chamber Repertoire:
Arrieu, Dixtuor pour Instruments à Vent
Mozart, Serenade No. 10 in B-flat Major, “Gran Partita”
Strauss, Suite in B-flat, Op. 4

Full Band Repertoire: 
Brahms/Buehlmann, Blessed are They
Day, Rocketship!
Holst, First Suite in E-flat (Movements I, II)
Price/Williams, Adoration
Stewart, Three Ayres from Gloucester          


Choose your primary track to register:

Track 1-Choral Conducting
Track 2-Orchestral Conducting
Track 3-Wind Conducting

     Note: You can select the optional dual track in the cart.


Hotels offering USC rates (based on availability):

The Courtyard Columbia Downtown at USC, 630 Assembly St., Columbia, SC 29201 (.2 miles from the School of Music). Contact Kristen Sutton 803-799-7800 or email kristen.sutton@sree.com
Be sure to mention you are registered for the USC Summer Conducting Workshop.

Hilton Columbia Center, 924 Senate St., Columbia, SC 29201  (.4 miles from the School of Music). Contact April Wheeler via email at a.wheeler@hospitalityamerica.com
Be sure to mention you are registered for the USC Summer Conducting Workshop.


Other hotel options and things to do in Columbia!

Note: Hotels in the Vista and downtown area are closest to the School of Music. Explore The Vista!

Questions?: Email lsmith@mozart.sc.edu 


Challenge the conventional. Create the exceptional. No Limits.

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