1) Musicians of all nationalities and both sexes can participate at the Italian Academy of Conducting. They must have the following requirements:

• maximum age for access to the Three -Year course: 30 years
• maximum age for access to the Two-Year course of Specialization: 40 years

2) The admission to the three-year course and the two-year course is subject to passing

• a test with the orchestra
• a test-interview with the teacher

Regarding the Two-Year Specialization course:
Pre-screening is done by DVD. The DVD must play properly on standard DVD players in Europe.

The recordings should consist of 3-4 excerpts, each 2-3 minutes in length, of contrasting standard repertoire demonstrating a variety of styles and tempi. The camera should be placed at the back of the orchestra with the focus on the front of the conductor. A full-size orchestra is not required; a quintet with piano would suffice, for example. The applicant's name and a written log of the excerpts with timings should be included on the DVD. Appropriate dress is expected. If you pass the pre-screening, you will be invited to audition with the Orchestra Filarmonica di Faenza. A limited number of candidates will be asked to audition according to the available places.

Test with the orchestra

All candidates must prepare the following compositions:

Haydn - Symphony in D major N.93
Mozart - Symphony N.38 in D Major "Prague"
Beethoven - Symphony No.3 in E flat. major, Op.55 "Eroica"
Beethoven - Symphony No.4 in B flat. major op.60
Mendelssohn - Symphony No.3 "Scottish" in A minor, Op.56
Stravinsky - Concerto in E flat. "Dumbarton Oaks"

The candidate will direct a part of a composition according to personal choice and another part according to the choice of the committee.

Test-interview with the teacher

If the candidate passes the test with the orchestra, he will be scheduled to meet with the teacher the next day. This is decisive for admission and includes:

• interview on Music, general and motivational.
• discussion concerning the test sustained with the orchestra.
• test of conducting technique inherent to Stravinsky’s Concerto in E flat. "Dumbarton Oaks"
• verification of knowledge regarding repertoire and instrumental techniques

Please note that the examination will be held over two days, so the candidate must arrange for the stay in Faenza.

Application form

In the application form the applicant must expressly request the type of examination he shall want to sustain.
The application form must be accompanied by personal academic and artistic documentation, a brief biography and a photograph of the face, preferably in digital format ISO / IEC 19794 (ICAO).

All candidates must present themselves to the secretary of the Italian Academy for Conducting by 18.00 the day before the examination to confirm their presence.
The exam fee is € 150.00 to be paid by bank transfer to:
‘Associazione Musicale Diapason’ Viale delle Ceramiche, 25 – 48018 Faenza (RA) - Banca di Credito Cooperativo di Faenza (IBAN IT 53 N 08542 23700 000000 168525)

The registration fee will support the entrance examination and will not be returned under any circumstance.