Applications for our 2026 New Music Conductor Fellowship are NOW CLOSED. The next application deadline is April 1, 2027. 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 2026 New Music Conducting Fellow will be in residence at the Conference for WEEKS 2 & 3, July 19-August 2, 2026.

The New Music Conductor Fellow will work with our Guest Conductors in Residence Matilda Hofman and Tian Hui Ng, AD Kurt Rohde, CMW Director Jessica Tong, the Conference Ensemble, Guest Composers and CPI Fellows. The fellowship will cover tuition, room and board, and limited 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.

Sample 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, 2026.

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, 2026; applicants notified by May 1, 2026.

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 Conference Artistic Director Kurt Rohde. Please note that all participants for the 2026 Conference should be up to date with full vaccination for the COVID-19 virus not less than 1 month prior to the beginning of the 2026 Conference. For questions about the application, please email Executive Director Adrian Morejon at amorejon@composersconference.org.

This fellowship is funded by Kurt Rohde.