About

The YMF Debut Orchestra Music Director and Conductor post is one of the most prestigious training positions available to young conductors. A three-year position, this opportunity gives one conductor (selected through national auditions) the opportunity to plan, rehearse, and conduct a series of approximately six concerts per season including symphonic, chamber orchestra, family and fundraising performances.

The Music Director & Conductor reports to the YMF Executive Director and YMF Programs Director, working alongside the Programs Director and Music Advisory Board to create each season’s programming and budget, conduct yearly auditions, write program notes, direct up to three outreach performances around Los Angeles County and represent YMF at numerous social and artistic events.

The Music Director receives a BMI Foundation Inc./Lionel Newman Conducting Study Grant, a YMF Conducting Grant, and the YMF/John & Samantha Williams Conducting Fellowship Grant. This is one of the few programs available where the most talented young conductors in the world are paired with one of the premiere youth orchestras in the nation, and given the opportunity to plan, rehearse, and conduct a full orchestra season.

The current Music Director of the Debut Orchestra is Case Scaglione, who began his three-year tenure in July, 2008.

Alumni Conductors 1955-present

André Previn

Michael Tilson Thomas

Lucas Richman

Jung-Ho Pak

Emil de Cou

David Blum* – Andre Previn – Robert La Marchina* – Henry Lewis* – Manuel Compinsky* – Lawrence Foster – Kenneth Klein – Michael Tilson Thomas – Robert Henderson – Phil Lehrman – Michael Nowak – Joel Ethan Fried – Calvin Simmons* – Rhonda Kess – Myung-Whun Chung – Toshiyuki Shimada – Emil de Cou – Neal Stulberg – Lucas Richman – Jung-Ho Pak – Daniel Hege – Lara Webber – Bundit Ungrangsee – Wilson Hermanto – Joana Carneiro – Sean Newhouse

(* In Memoriam)

Eligibility

Open to conductors of exceptional professional promise and ability who reside in the United States, who will not have reached their 27th birthday by June 30th of the year of the auditions, and who are not yet under professional management.

Audition Openings

The next audition for the Music Director & Conductor post will be in March, 2011.

Applications will be available in January, 2011

Required Materials

• Completed application
• Resume
• Proof of age (copy of drivers license, passport, or birth certificate)
• 2 letters of recommendation
• Repertoire List: list only works that you have studied in rehearsal or performance. Format in five columns. 1) composer (alphabetically), 2) composition, 3) ensemble, 4) date, 5) indication of rehearsal or performance.
• Labeled DVD: The applicant is to be filmed, (both in rehearsal and in concert) from the sides, or rear of the orchestra with a wide enough angle of view so that the conductor’s face, body, and at least some of the orchestra members are visible throughout the rehearsal or performance. DVD must contain the following, in this order, and labeled on the DVD: 1) Exactly 10 minutes, unedited, of working rehearsal of any repertoire from the repertoire list below*, 2) Exactly 5 minutes, unedited, of one selection from the repertoire list below, either in rehearsal or concert, 3) Exactly 5 minutes, unedited, of a second selection from the repertoire list below, either in rehearsal or concert, and 4) Unedited entire piece conducted in concert in 2010 or 2011.

* Repertoire must include four contrasting selections from the following (not necessarily in this order):

• One movement of a concerto,
• One work of Beethoven,
• One work from the Romantic period,
• One contemporary or 20th century work containing mixed meters and/or complex beating patterns