Conducting Fellowship

The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra (NPO) announces the 2024-25 Conducting Fellowship. This position is an opportunity for an emerging conductor to gain experience with the artistic and administrative operations of an orchestra.

2024 submissions were due April 19, 2024, 11:59pm (CDT), and are no longer being accepted. Please read below for more details and audition submission requirements.

Conducting Fellowship Information

NOTE: Please read all the information in BOTH sections before emailing us your submission.

Please read all instructions carefully (in this section and the section below), and immediately mark any important dates in your calendar.

This position is an opportunity for an emerging conductor to gain experience with the artistic and administrative operations of an orchestra. The position is currently for one season, but the artistic staff has the option to offer a full year renewal to the Fellow when appropriate.

All applications must be complete and received by 11:59pm (CDT) April 19, 2024.

NPO Conducting Fellow Duties:

The Conducting Fellow will attend all NPO rehearsals and performances serving as a cover conductor to the Music Director, Dr. Christopher Norton. This will include studying all repertoire, being prepared to conduct, and offering feedback on balance and artistic issues.

The NPO rehearses on Tuesday evenings from August through May, and presents four pairs of concerts on Sundays and Tuesdays. The Conducting Fellow will have the opportunity to conduct the orchestra in sectionals and select rehearsals as assigned by the Music Director, and possibly on concerts.

The Fellow will also assist the Music Director in administrative tasks related to the craft of conducting. 

NPO Conducting Fellow Benefits:

This is a volunteer position. In addition to the benefit of learning the repertoire and conducting periodically, the Conducting Fellow will be provided with the following:

  • regular conducting evaluation and guidance from the Music Director

  • a lesson or session with NPO Founder and Artistic Director of Intersection, Kelly Corcoran

  • observation opportunities with select professional ensembles throughout Nashville (to be determined)

The Fellow will also be provided with a stipend for relevant score purchases. 

Conducting Fellowship Audition

NOTE: Please read all the information in BOTH sections before emailing us your submission.

Please read all instructions carefully (in this section and the above section), and immediately mark any important dates in your calendar.

All applications must be complete and received by 11:59pm (CDT) April 19, 2024.

Selection Process:

Interested candidates should submit their resume, references and a letter of interest. Links to conducting footage are also strongly encouraged. Please submit materials by e-mail by April 19, 2024, 11:59pm (CDT) to: The Nashville Philharmonic Orchestra - director@nashvillephilharmonic.org. Please include “NPO Conducting Fellow Application” in the subject line.

Select individuals will be invited to conduct members of the NPO in a live audition and interview in the evening of May 14, 2024. Finalists selected for the live audition will be notified and sent audition repertoire on or before April 30, repertoire will likely be drawn from Beethoven’s Symphony No 9 and Holst’s The Planets.

Note about conducting footage: If submitting actual files, they should be .mp4 video files. Otherwise, links to files hosted on YouTube, Google Drive, Dropbox, etc. are acceptable. We do require that you include the date of the recording in the file name or video caption (and strongly encourage you to submit video no older than April 2023).

Incomplete applications will not be considered until all materials are received, and no incomplete application will be considered after April 19, 2024.