New Music Conductor Fellowship

Vimbayi Kaziboni, Music Director & Conference Ensemble Conductor

CONFERENCE DATES

July 14 - August 4, 2024

APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED

Created with the Conference’s philosophy that the power of art is a means for gaining knowledge and practicing change, the New Music Conductor Fellowship centers sharing and learning in community. The 2024 New Music Conducting Fellow will be in residence at the Conference for WEEKS 2 & 3. APPLICATIONS ARE NOW CLOSED; all applicants notified by May 1, 2024.

The New Music Conductor Fellow will work with Ensemble Conductor and Conference Music Director Vimbayi Kaziboni, AD Kurt Rohde, CMW Director Jessica Tong, the Conference Ensemble, Guest Composers and CPI Fellows. The fellowship will cover tuition, room and board, and travel expenses.

The goal is to bring an exciting young up & coming new music conductor to the Conference to work with our new conductor & the Conference Ensemble & CPI. The target applicant will give preference to a BIPOC/ALAANA, non-male identifying person. 

An ideal candidate would be someone who:

  • is still in the early stage of their career and has received significant training,

  • has a strong commitment and interest in working with living composers,

  • is committed to working with new music performers in a respectful, professional, collaborative manner,

  • has a vision for their role in our new music community,

  • is sensitive to the need to promote and champion composers and performers from underrepresented communities who would benefit from opportunities afforded them that are typically out of reach, and

  • is excited about working with amateur musicians on a variety of repertoire.

Application Information - CLICK HERE:

Materials: Please submit high quality video with good audio of your conducting piece(s) from 1950 to the present, with a preference for music by living composers. Please upload your video selections to a YT or Vimeo account; make sure that these videos will be available up through July 31, 2024.

Selection #1: link to 10 min. or less of unedited rehearsal video; should be of a single work

Selection #2: link to 5 min. of an unedited performance video; may include up to 2 pieces, with the selection for each piece being unedited

Application Deadline: April 1, 2024; applicants notified by May 1, 2024

NOTE: The initial screen will be done by Music Director Vimbayi Kaziboni. Up to 5 applicants will be selected as finalists and asked to have a short 15-minute ZOOM interview with MD Kaziboni, along with the other Conference Directors.

This fellowship is funded by Kurt Rohde.

2023 New Music Conductor Fellow Julian Gau

Julian Gau is a conductor based in Boston, Massachusetts. He recently finished a master's degree in orchestral conducting at the Boston Conservatory, where he studied with Bruce Hangen, and he studied music and mathematics at Brown University. Julian serves as the founder and music director of the Boston-based Horizon Ensemble, an orchestra whose performances pair historical compositions with new works by young composers. He also serves as music director of the Chinese Music Ensemble of New York, which performs traditional Chinese orchestra music. This summer, he also is serving as an assistant conductor at Opera Saratoga. 

As a conductor, Julian believes strongly in the values of community and communication: strengthening the bonds between people and conveying ideas through music and empathy. Outside of conducting, Julian also plays the piano and cello, composes, and writes about music. He also enjoys stories, noodles, and time with friends. Julian is excited and honored to be a part of the Composers Conference this summer!