Posted in Conducting Workshops, Uncategorized

new! CONDUCTORS WORKSHOP 25th March and 1st April 2026 in Blackburn

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WORKSHOP ON 25TH March is FULL. THE WORKSHOP ON 1st April HAS BEEN CANCELLED.

To make a booking please do the following

  1. Contact Roland Yeung, Music Director, to discuss how you want to do. 0432 445577 or music.director@graingerwindsymphony.asn.au
  2. Go to TryBooking to read more information and to complete your registration click here.

FAQ

  1. What repertoire shall I conduct? Full participants may select to conduct their own choice. They will provide a full set of parts and an extra score for their mentor.
  2. Am I able to conduct something from the GWS library? Yes. The first matter is that the conductor must know the work really well. The conducting workshop is about conductors improving their conducting skills, not pushing the players into sight-reading technically difficult passages.
  3. What shall I discuss with my mentor? The first priority is to experience starting the wind symphony, getting going, and establishing the character you want. Then the conductor may like to highlight particular parts of the score they want to shape. Whilst what conductors need to do is to focus on non-verbal directions, not telling players what they want; they may like to spend some time discussing rehearsal strategies, setting up and training their ensemble; and any aspect of the philosophy of conducting.
  4. What video equipment do I need to bring? Your podium time in the workshop will be videoed and we will bring in the equipment needed. A copy of the video of your podium time will be provided to you and your mentor on an SD card. It will be a resource for review in your private session with your mentor after the podium time. You should bring your own laptop to view the video with a SD card reader, and to copy the SD card onto your hard drive, then returning it to Roland before leaving. After the workshop is over, Roland will upload a video combining the video with the professional audio recording done at the same time, but separately.
  5. Who are the conductor mentors I can choose from? Stephen Carpenter (Heidelberg Wind Ensemble), Andrew van Gemert (Manningham Concert Band), Andrew Mathers (Southern Area Concert Band), Shane Walterfang (Associate Conductor GWS), Roland Yeung (Music Director and Principal Conductor GWS). In discussion with Roland, a mentor will be assigned to you. For information about the mentors click here
  6. There are two programs. What is the difference? The most popular program is the One-on-one Program. A mentor will be assigned to you who you will meet at 6.15pm on the evening of the workshop. You will have a private tutorial to prepare your podium time conducting the GWS. You will have about 13 minutes of podium time which will be videoed. The immediately after a private review session with your mentor.
  7. The second program is a group class. The group will meet as a class on several occasions at a time mutually convenient to the conductors who have selected this option – usually in the evening or on the weekend. At the workshop, they will each have podium time which will be videoed. A review class will be arranged on another date after. The works conducted will be set and each group member will work on the same passages. Please discuss your preference with Roland.
  8. Where is the GWS Conducting Workshop held. Blackburn High School Music Centre – 60 Springfield Road, Blackburn, Melbourne.