International Conductor's Festival

Like the original, ICF-Kiev, ICF-Danville is, at its core, a two-week teacher-less conducting masterclass. Up to eight participating conductors get significant, uninterrupted podium time with a professional orchestra every day of the festival in order to prepare for the two public concerts (four total) that end each festival week. Each festival week, every conductor will appear on both concerts, performing different repertoire on each concert. The rehearsal podium time is supplemented with afternoon “lab” sessions with a string quintet where participants try new things, share ideas, get feedback from players, and learn from each other in a collegial and supportive environment. Extensive local and regional press coverage is being arranged and a long list of community partners has been assembled.

ICF-Danville is also a community music festival. During the two weeks of the festival, there will be a wide range of educational programs and community engagement activities that will give conductors an opportunity to hone their skills in these areas. Examples include:

• Open rehearsals (one per week) where conductors will talk to the audience regarding the piece they are working on, what the visiting public should listen for, what they’re hoping to achieve during the rehearsal, etc.

• Meet and greet events at local restaurants where conductors will talk to the public about their conducting lives, what it’s like to make music for a living, etc.

• Public lecture opportunities

• Public concerts on Centre’s campus. One concert each festival week will take place in Centre College’s Weisiger Theater and serve as a fund raiser. The first week’s concert will be a fundraiser for the local Humane Society and the second will be a fundraiser for the local pay-what-you-can cafe, which is dedicated to ending hunger in the county.

• Concerts in the community. One concert each festival week will be off-campus at a community venue. The first week’s concert in the community will take place atShaker Village and the second will take place at Wilderness Trail Distillery.