Calling all conductors (Free conducting masterclass)

Article below is written by Janelle Gelfand

If you’ve ever wondered how hard it would be to get up and conduct a concert of the Cincinnati May Festival — this workshop is for you. The Cincinnati May Festival is seeking five conductors and up to 75 observers for its first-ever choral-orchestral conducting workshop, to be led by director of choruses Robert Porco. The all-day workshop, which is free, will be held on March 24 at Hope Church in Mason.

It’s a unique opportunity for choral conductors, music educators and church musicians alike, who wish to strengthen their skills in the area of leading a chorus with instrumentalists. The repertoire to be used in the workshop will be selections from Handel’s “Messiah,” Part I. Scores will be available for purchase.

Topics covered will include recitative and aria accompaniment, orchestral passages, ensemble balance and the efficient use of rehearsal time. Participants will be working with members of the May Festival Chorus, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra and soloists.

The workshop will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., with lunch provided. CEU certificates will be provided for interested educators.

The two levels of participation are conductors, who will receive podium time and personal instruction from Porco in a master-class setting, or observers of the class. To participate as a conductor, you must submit a video conducting sample with the application.

Porco has been May Festival director of choruses since 1989, and he has been one of the nation’s leading choral conductors for 36 years. In 2011, Chorus America awarded Porco its annual Michael Korn Founders Award for lifetime achievement in the choral art.

The workshop is free, but reservations are required. The application and information are atwww.mayfestival.com. The workshop is sponsored by ArtsWave Presents.