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Mastering Concertos Masterclass for Soloists

An Extraordinary Opportunity for Violinists and Pianists

The Embodied Conducting Institute is pleased to announce the 5th edition of Mastering Concertos, a remarkable, intensive masterclass for soloists and conductors that combines mentoring from world-class master teachers with practical experience rehearsing and performing with a professional symphony orchestra. The Institute will accept up to 4 pianists and 4 violinists for 11 days of instruction and performance. Participating soloists rehearse and play up to two complete concertos with a professional orchestra. The Vidin Sinfonietta (Bulgaria) returns for the fifth year to host Mastering Concertos.

Soloist Eligibility

The Institute invites highly accomplished violinists and pianists with at least one concerto in their repertoire to apply. Experience performing with a symphony orchestra is not required, but applicants are expected to have one to two concertos from the list below fully prepared when they apply. Soloists must be at least 12 years old on July 1, 2021. There is no upper age limit. Soloists under 18 years old must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian at least 21 years old.

Mastering Concertos is ideal for
  • aspiring soloists ready for their first experience with orchestra;
  • more experienced soloists preparing for competitions or auditions;
  • college professors seeking professional development opportunities;
  • soloists who would like to “test drive” new repertoire; and
  • soloists of any age interested in expert coaching and performing with orchestra.
Violinist Georgy Nikolsky, 2019 Mastering Concertos
Pablo Ruiz, 2019 Mastering Concertos soloist
Masterclass for Soloists Curriculum
  • six to seven hours of daily contact with faculty;
  • 180+ minutes of private lessons with your master teacher;
  • 120+ minutes of instructional rehearsal with orchestra;
  • 90 minutes of instructional rehearsal with an accompanist;
  • one 25 to 30-minute general rehearsal with orchestra;
  • performance of up to two concerto movements; and
  • two additional group masterclasses.
Piano and Violin Instructors

Pianists study with renowned Italian soloist and pedagogue Mattia Ometto, and violinists are mentored by Macedonian violin virtuoso Emilio Percan. Find instructor bios HERE.

Tuition, Awards and Discounts

All accepted soloists receive a $900 US scholarship, reducing the $2,895 US course tuition to $1,995 US. This fee covers all private lessons, instructional rehearsals, masterclasses, general rehearsals, concerts and the cost of a private hotel room with breakfast for the duration of the course. Parents and guardians accompanying minors pay only $400 US for their portion of a double occupancy room.

The faculty may award a professional return engagement with the Vidin Sinfonietta to one outstanding soloist and conductor. Hotel accommodations are provided by the orchestra. Recipients are responsible for travel expenses. Institute alumni receive a $200 US scholarship. Soloists and conductors attending Mastering Concertos together receive a discount of $200 US for soloists and $250 US for conductors).

Tatiana Bogatova, 2019 Mastering Concertos soloist
Violinist Emilio Percan & Pianist Mattia Ometto in concert, 2019 Mastering Concertos
Conductor and soloists, Mastering Concertos concert, July 26, 2019
Violin soloist Esther Tran & Conductor Sean Bresesmann

Mastering Concertos Repertoire Choices

Soloists bringing concertos to the course should choose one from the Classical Orchestra list and one from the Romantic Orchestra list. Those planning to bring one concerto may choose from either list. These should be concertos you have in your repertoire, not “works in progress.” Memorization is not required.

Violin

Classical Orchestra

Beethoven Violin Concerto

Dvořák Violin Concerto

Mendelssohn Violin Concertos in D and E minor

Mozart Violin Concertos 3, 4 and 5

Paganini Violin Concerto No. 1

Romantic Orchestra

Brahms Violin Concerto

Bruch Violin Concertos 1 and 2

Elgar Violin Concerto

Khachaturian Violin Concerto

Lalo Symphonie espagnole

Prokofiev Violin Concertos 1 and 2

Saint-Saens Violin Concerto No. 3

Sibelius Violin Concerto

Tchaikovsky Violin Concerto

Wieniawski Violin Concertos 1 and 2

Piano

Classical Orchestra

Beethoven Piano Concertos 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5

Haydn Concertos in G major and D major

Mendelssohn Piano Concertos 1 and 2

Mozart Piano Concertos 12, 14, 20, 21, 23 and 25

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 2

Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 1

Romantic Orchestra

Brahms Piano Concertos 1 and 2

Chopin Piano Concertos 1 and 2

Grieg Piano Concerto in A minor

Liszt Piano Concerto No.1

Prokofiev Piano Concerto No. 3

Rachmaninov Piano Concerto No. 2

Saint-Saëns Piano Concerto No. 5

Schumann Piano Concerto in A minor

Shostakovich Piano Concerto No. 2

Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 1

Vidin, Bulgaria city center
Vidin, Bulgaria shopping promenade
Vidin Cultural Center

Mastering Concertos Schedule

Wednesday, July 13 is arrival day. Plan to arrive in Sofia no later than 15:00 local time. Students make the trip from the airport to Vidin on the Institute coach. You’ll have time for supper at one of several nearby restaurants after check-in at the Rovno Hotel.

Instruction begins on Thursday, July 14 with a morning welcome session followed by score Q and A with faculty for conductors and initial meetings with master teachers for soloists. The first session with piano accompaniment begins at 5:00 pm.

Morning sessions start at 9:30 on Friday, July 15. Each conductor/soloist pair works 20 minutes with full orchestra.

Maestro Gambetta leads afternoon Embodied Conducting sessions that help conductors improve connections between their movements and musical intentions.

Soloists arrange 30-minute daily coaching sessions with their master teacher. All soloists receive at least 180 minutes of one-on-one private coaching.

Evening sessions with piano accompaniment provide students with 15-minutes of additional instructional time to work on the next morning’s repertoire with full orchestra.

The curriculum also includes weekly score study and musicianship seminars as well as Hindemith based hand independence exercises for conductors and additional group masterclasses for soloists

All conductors and soloists perform up to two concerto movements (depending on movement length) on at least one of two public concerts.

Students depart for Sofia Airport on the night of July 23 for early morning departures on Sunday July 24.

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Typical Instructional Day

08:30 Conductors Morning Rehearsal Prep

09:30 Morning Orchestra Sessions

12:30 Lunch

14:30 Soloist Coaching

17:00 Piano Accompaniment Sessions

19:30 Daily wrap-up/review

20:00 Dinner

Typical Concert Day

08:30 General Rehearsal Prep

09:30 General Rehearsal

13:00 Lunch

15:00 Free time

18:30 Concert Prep

19:30 Concert

21:00 Dinner

Post Concert Dinner, 2019 Mastering Concertos
Institute Student Comments
  • 2017 Mastering Concertos soloist

    Professor Percan was an awesome and wonderful teacher. He helped me with things I had time to fix within the two weeks. He made me feel confident and gave me great advice and practice techniques.

  • 2017 Mastering Concertos soloist

    Maestro Ometto is extremely helpful. Whenever you have questions, he gives you the best answer, and he can explain things in such a clear way that you immediately understand. He is always very supportive and wishes to bring out the best of you.

  • 2019 Mastering Concertos Soloist

    The faculty are so kind; the orchestra provides such a friendly environment that the anxiety for performing is minimized and one truly feels enjoyment.