Dear friends and acquaintances,
First of all, I wish you a Happy New Year!
Through this newsletter, I want to inform you about an exceptional year of conducting classes in 2025! This year, I will be offering more conducting lessons than ever before, and I can’t wait to share my passion and knowledge with my (future) students.
I kick off the year with two concerts in January at the University of Arts Bremen, where, in the one on January 20th, the “ensembleANM” will play some brand new compositions by student composers. After that, in the rest of 2025, there will be many interesting projects at this institute.
Then, a series of masterclasses will fill the year.
**February 2025: 9th International Masterclass Conducting Technique**
In February, I will be teaching the 9th International Masterclass Conducting Technique in the rural environment of the Belgian Ardens. This masterclass provides a unique opportunity to elevate conducting skills, especially the conducting technique and score study.
The masterclass is already fully booked. The participants:
Erik Wakar (US), Xander Wassenaar (NL), Sebastian Jörgensen (DL), Obada Zabadina (SR/NL), Igor La Vos (NL), Martin Robidoux (CA), Mary Konstantinidou (GR), Meija (NL).
Together with two pianists, we will work on several masterpieces from the symphonic repertoire:
Beethoven – Symphony No. 1, first movement
Ravel – Pavane pour une infante défunte
Bela Bartok – Intermezzo (4th movement) from Concerto for Orchestra
Johann Strauss – Overture “Die Fledermaus“ („The Bat“)
**March 2025: Orchestral Conducting Masterclass presented by Conducting Studio Zagreb**
In March, I head to the beautiful city of Zagreb for the Orchestral Conducting Masterclass organized by Conducting Studio Zagreb. This event promises to be a dynamic and inspiring experience, where the participants will work under my guidance with an instrumental ensemble on symphonic repertoire:
Mozart – Ilia’s aria ‘Quando avran fine omai…Padre, Germani, addio’ from Idomeneo
Beethoven – Symphony no. 1
Wagner – Siegfried-Idyll
Pavle Dešpalj, Yearning (Čežnja)
Further details can be found here: Conducting Studio Zagreb
Just a few weeks to go before the deadline of registration. Don’t wait too long if you want to benefit from this special masterclass!
**August 2025: 10th International Masterclass Conducting Technique**
The 10th International Masterclass Conducting Technique from August 22-29, 2025 is the milestone edition. It promises to be extra special, with a lot of engaging sessions to further refine your conducting abilities. Again, this masterclass will take place in the fantastic accommodation in the village of Chiny in the Belgian Ardens. Application for this masterclass is open now. All details are here: International Masterclass Conducting Technique – rené gulikers
**Continuous Growth: In-Person and Online Lessons**
In addition to these fantastic events, I will also be offering conducting lessons to a growing number of students both domestically and internationally, in person as well as online. Under my online students are conductors from Canada, United States of America, Switzerland and Norway. Many domestic conductors come on a regular basis for in-person lessons to my place in The Netherlands. Whether you are an experienced conductor or just starting, I provide tailored lessons that meet your needs and help you achieve your goals. More information here: conducting lessons – rené gulikers
I look forward to making 2025 an unforgettable year of music and inspiration together with all my conducting students. Don’t miss out on these unique opportunities and – in case you, as a musician, are interested in conducting lessons – sign up for the masterclasses and/or lessons!
Musically yours,
René Gulikers