The Girton Conducting Course was founded in 2021 and is widely recognised as one of the foremost independent training programmes for conductors in the UK, with participants coming from all over the world to study under the guidance of our expert tutors. Initially based at Girton College, Cambridge, the course has relocated this year to the University of Chichester. The University offers state-of-the-art facilities in one of the UK’s oldest cathedral cities, with its rich cultural history.

Teaching
Girton Conducting differs from many other courses in placing the emphasis on a structured learning programme rather than specified ‘podium time’. The course is principally for Advanced/Professional and Intermediate level conductors but has a dedicated class for those with more limited conducting experience.

The foundation of the course is the long-established musical and technical tradition taught by the late George Hurst, one of most significant British conductors and pedagogues of the 20th Century. His performing and teaching legacy can be explored on The George Hurst Archive, and the technique on Denise Ham’s instructional videos ‘The Craft of Conducting’.

Resources
The course offers a progressive programme of study, starting with piano workshops, instrumental workshops (piano and professional string quintet), orchestral workshops and full orchestra. Practical work is supported by classes dealing with score study, interpretation, ear training, musicianship and psychology. Participants may film their own conducting and are free to use the material after the course. 

Repertoire
Students should prepare as much of the set repertoire as possible. However, more will be gained from a thorough knowledge of fewer pieces rather than a broad overview of everything. Students should bring scores of the complete repertoire, regardless of what they have prepared.

Colin Metters Masterclass
New to this year’s course is a masterclass with Colin Metters, Emeritus Professor of Conducting at the Royal Academy of Music (London), and an internationally renowned conducting pedagogue. Applicants are invited to state whether they wish to be considered for this session.