International Conducting Masterclass
Christopher Warren-Green to Lead the 5th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Course Masterclass 2026
Maestro Christopher Warren-Green, a world-renowned conductor, will lead the fifth edition of the Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Course Masterclass 2026 at the Silesian Philharmonic. In August 2026, the most talented young conductors will have a unique opportunity to work with this outstanding artist, known for his masterful interpretations of both symphonic and operatic repertoire. Masterclass 2026 will offer one of the participants a direct qualification for Stage I of the XII Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition in 2028.
British conductor Christopher Warren-Green is Principal Conductor and Music Director of the London Chamber Orchestra in the UK and Conductor Laureate of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra in North Carolina following a twelve-year tenure as Music Director. Warren-Green is Chair of the Foundation for Young Musicians and in 2022 he celebrated a professional career spanning 50 years. Warren-Green has conducted eminent orchestras around the world, including The Philadelphia Orchestra, Minnesota Orchestra, Macao Orchestra, Detroit, Houston, St Louis, Toronto, Milwaukee, Seattle and Vancouver symphony orchestras, and National Symphony Orchestra Washington D.C. In the UK, Warren-Green has worked with Philharmonia, London Philharmonic, Royal Liverpool Philharmonic and Royal Scottish National orchestras. In Europe, he has conducted Orchestre National de Belgique, Beethoven Orchestra Bonn, Orchestre National de Montpelier, Zürcher Kammerorchester, RTÉ Symphony Orchestra, Iceland Symphony Orchestra and in East Asia the Hong Kong Philharmonic, NHK Symphony, Yomiuri Nippon, Singapore, Sapporo and KBS symphony orchestras.
5th Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Course Masterclass 2026 will take place on 24-28 August 2026, at the Silesian Philharmonic in Katowice and will be conducted entirely in English. The course includes two types of participation:
- Active Participation (12 places) – participants will take part in:
- Four days of conducting workshops with the Silesian Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra,
- Recorded audio-video sessions,
- Consultations on recorded materials,
- Final rehearsal and concert on August 28, 2026,
- Certificate of completion.
- Passive Participation (20 places) – participants will observe the conducting workshops, final rehearsal, and concert, receiving a certificate of attendance.
Masterclass 2026 Program:
- Gioacchino Rossini – Overture to the opera La Scala di Seta
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Clarinet Concerto in A major KV 622
- Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 39 in E-flat major KV 543
- Ludwig van Beethoven – Symphony No. 8 in F major op. 93
Award for the Most Outstanding Participant
Maestro Christopher Warren-Green, based on artistic merit, will automatically qualify one participant for Stage I of the XII Grzegorz Fitelberg International Conducting Competition in 2028.
Application for Masterclass 2026
To participate in the course, applicants must:
- Be at least 18 years old (by June 13, 2026),
- Have a musical education or be a student of a music program,
- Speak English at a communicative level,
- Demonstrate experience in conducting symphony orchestras.
Applicants must submit the following documents:
- Completed application form (available at fitelbergcompetition.com),
- CV with a short biography,
- Portrait photo (600 dpi, TIF or JPG format),
- Scan of a document confirming education or student status,
- Link to an audio-video recording (3–10 minutes, AVI or MP4 format) showcasing the applicant as a conductor (e.g., a rehearsal or concert with an orchestra).
Application deadline: June 13, 2026
Participation Fees
Active Participation: 6,500 PLN or 1,550 €
Passive Participation: 500 PLN or 120 €