Radio New Zealand - Te Reo Irirangi o Aotearoa

26 May 2012 - 12:19 am NZ time

RNZ Home » Concert » Programmes » Making Maestros

Making Maestros

Wednesdays 23 May, 30 May and 6 June at 7pm during Appointment

In March 2011 the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra launched a new training opportunity for emerging conductors, led by Music Director Pietari Inkinen. The programme took place over three days of sessions, with individual coaching for five conductors followed by video analysis.

Radio New Zealand Concert's Robbie Ellis was there and recorded Making Maestros, a documentary series for Young New Zealand. Over three programmes he meets the five participants, talks to Pietari Inkinen about their progress and his background in the world-renowned Finnish system, and looks at the New Zealand system: other opportunities for young conductors at the high school, university and postgraduate levels.

Participants were required to learn the following repertoire:
- Beethoven: Egmont Overture Op 84
- Beethoven: 4th mvt: Adagio-Allegro molto e vivace, from Symphony No 1 in C Op 21
- Beethoven: 1st mvt: Allegro con brio, from Symphony No 5 in C minor Op 67
- Brahms: 1st mvt: Allegro con brio, from Symphony No 3 in F Op 90
- Debussy: Prélude à l'après-midi d'un faune

The big day arrives...

... the five participants have podium time with the full New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in the Michael Fowler Centre which, for some, means they have to conduct their own instrument teachers!

Robbie gets final impressions of the workshop from teacher and students; and catches up with the five participants months down the line. Claire Lewis also tells us what's next for emerging conductors in the NZSO's Young Originals programme.

Making Maestros - Day One

We talk to Pietari Inkinen, Peter Walls and Claire Lewis from the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra, then we meet the five participants. This episode focuses on the first day of sessions in the Hunter Council Chamber at Victoria University, where the five conducted two pianists in reductions of full orchestral scores.

This programme also looks at opportunities for conductors at the high school level. Robbie talks to two teenage conductors who were invited to observe the final day of the NZSO Conductor Workshops: Matthew Lee (17, Gisborne) and Alexander Eichelbaum (16, Auckland); and two Heads of Music of musically prolific secondary schools: Rowan Johnston (Westlake Girls' High School, Auckland) and Helen Renaud (Burnside High School, Christchurch). (59′46″)

Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed

Making Maestros - Day Two

The five participants move onto Day 2 of sessions, in which they conduct a small group of NZSO players and each other: Raymond plays cello, Brent plays timpani, Nicholas plays viola, Justus plays clarinet, and Pietari plays violin! We look forward to Day 3 and the sessions with the full NZSO, and Pietari Inkinen starts to identify which repertoire best suits which conductor. This episode also looks at tertiary studies in conducting. Robbie talks to Kenneth Young (New Zealand School of Music), Helen Renaud (Christchurch School of Music) and Karen Grylls (University of Auckland); and two figures associated with the Auckland Philharmonia Orchestra: Lee Martelli (Education Manager) and Tianyi Lu (participant in Symphony Services International's Conductor Development Programme). (59′48″)

Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed

Making Maestros - Day Three

The big day arrives: the five participants have podium time with the full New Zealand Symphony Orchestra in the Michael Fowler Centre which, for some, means they have to conduct their own instrument teachers! Robbie gets final impressions of the workshop from teacher and students; and catches up with the five participants months down the line. Claire Lewis also tells us what's next for emerging conductors in the NZSO's Young Originals programme. (1h 00′43″)

Download: Ogg Vorbis MP3 | Embed