10 - 23 September 2006
in KOSICE, SLOVAKIA

with

MAESTRO JORMA PANULA

and

THE SLOVAK STATE PHILHARMONIC KOSICE

Distinguished conductor and
conducting pedagogue, MAESTRO JORMA PANULA will lead the Mastercourse/Symposium.

Maestro Panula has conducted major orchestras on all continents and was professor of conducting in his native Finland at the Sibelius Academy in Helsinki (since 1973). He presently teaches conducting courses at the Stockholm Royal Academy, and formerly taught at the Copenhagen Royal Academy.

Panula is in demand as an effective teacher of conducting mastercourses throughout the world. Several of his former students are now music directors of major orchestras, including Esa Pekka Salonen (LA Philharmonic), Osmo Vanska (Minnesota Orchestra, Lahti Symphony), Jukka Pekka Saraste (Toronto Symphony), Sakari Oramo (City of Birmingham Symphony, Finnish Radio Symphony), and Petri Sakari (formerly Iceland Symphony). The BBC has labeled him as one of the 60 most influential musicians alive today.

The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice (ŠfK) - was established in 1968 as the second professional symphonic orchestra in Slovakia. It is based in Košice - the capital of Eastern Slovakia with a population of over a quarter of a million. Košice is a seat of The Constitutional Court, four universities, numerous research institutes, theatres, galleries and museums. The first concert of the newly founded orchestra was performed in April 1969 and conducted by the then chief conductor Bystrík Režucha. In a short time ŠfK became highly recognized by both professional and wide audience and became one of the leading representatives of Slovak interpretative music in Slovakia and in abroad. The nearly 90 strong ensemble includes only professional musicians - graduates of conservatoires and famous music academies. ŠfK achieved great success with its concerts in many European countries but also in important cities of Asia and Mexico. The orchestra has performed at international music festivals held in important cultural centres of the world - e.g. Vienna, Salzburg, Berlin, Budapest, Prague, Antwerp, Lisboa, Barcelona, Athens, Rimes, Hong-Kong, Luxemburg, New York. In 1994 The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice went on a month long tour in the U.S.A. It was the
first time the Slovak professional symphonic orchestra had performed in America.

ŠfK also presents its art in recordings for radio, television and gramophone companies (more than 130 CD´s). Many of the recordings made for Naxos, Marco Polo and others are unique - they are first recordings of the seldom performed works of L. Spohr, J. Raff, A. Rubinstein, W. Furtwängler, E. Waldteufel, F. von Suppé. They have succeeded in entering the foreign market with the orchestral works of Strauss Jr. and further recordings. Orchestra has worked with many world-renowned artists: Igor Oistrach, Gidon Kremer, Dietrich Fischer-Dieskau, Ivan Moravec, Josef Suk, Sergej Kopèák, Peter Mikuláš, Peter Dvorský, Viktor Fedotov, Valerij Gergiev, Emin Khachaturian, Natan Rachlin, Thomas Sanderling, Alexander Rahbari, Tadeusz Strugala, Jiøí Bìlohlávek, Libor Pešek, Václav Smetáèek, Ludovít Rajter, Ladislav Slovák, Ondrej Lenárd, Bystrík Režucha and others. In May 1998 ŠfK performed at a glamorous concert with Luciano Pavarotti. The repertoire of the orchestra includes all the most frequently played works from the baroque up to the music of the 20th century.

Since 1991 The Slovak State Philharmonic, Košice, as the only orchestra in the Slovak republic, has organized 2 international festivals: The Košice Music Spring Festival and International Organ Music Festival. Since 2003 ŠfK has also organized the Festival of Contemporary Art. Jerzy Swoboda is the music director of ŠfK.

Rozalina Kassabova-Kushinchanova is a singer (mezzo-soprano) with a repertoire ranging from the Baroque to contemporary music. Born in Varna, Bulgaria, she graduated with a master’s degree in viola from the State Academy of Music-Sofia in 1998. During her studies at the Academy of Music, she won a scholarship from the Hochschule für Musik und Darstellende Kunst in Vienna which enabled her to take part in viola Master Classes in Semmering, Austria during summers. There she worked with Siegfried Fürlinger, who invited her to attend his violia class at the Vienna Academy of Music in 1996.

For six years (1996-2001) Ms. Kushinchanova studied voice in the class of the world-famous Bulgarian opera singer, Alexandrina Milcheva. Influenced by her great professionalism and strong spirit, Ms. Kuschinchanova decided to re-dedicate her career to vocal and operatic music. Thanks to the heartfelt work of Ms. Milcheva as a teacher, Ms. Kuschinchanova now has a brilliant and excellent vocal technique at her disposal.

Since 2000, Ms. Kuschinchanova performs both solo and chamber concerts. Her repertory is based on song-cycles by Mahler, Schumann, Wagner and Dvorak, as well as songs from all periods.

The Bulgarian National Radio has been interested her vocal interpretations of chamber works; she has recorded in their ‘Studio One’ since 2001. BNR and Classic FM Radio (the most popular Bulgarian Radio for Classical music) both regularly feature Ms. Kuschinchanova’s recordings.

Since 2004, Ms. Kuschinchanova has also participated in concerts and recordings as a soloist with the Bulgarian National Radio Orchestra under the baton of such conductors as Rosen Milanow, Ivan Anguelov, Boris Spasov and Grigor Palikarov.

The Symposium/Mastercourse will begin on the evening of 10 September and conclude with its final concert on 23 September 2006. The event will take place in the rehearsal and performance halls of the THE SLOVAK STATE PHILHARMONIC KOSICE and focus on selected orchestral works of Gustav Mahler and various French composers with a full symphony orchestra. There will be 20 rehearsals and four public concerts.

Sixteen (16) conductors will be selected as active participants from the applicants -- these conductors should be experienced professionals who want to deepen their knowledge of this repertoire and its interpretation. Each of the conductors will have daily podium time and conduct on one of four public concerts with equal time. Up to ten (10) auditors will also be selected -- auditors need not have significant professional conducting experience, but should be experienced conductors with an interest in this repertoire and/or conducting technique, or others who are simply interested in the orchestral works of these great composers. Those auditors who are experienced conductors may also conduct during one or more rehearsals.

Conductors are urged to bring ALL SCORES to the Masterclass, even if they are not planning on conducting some of the works to be rehearsed and performed.

Conducting assignments for the public performances will be made by Maestro Panula. Each participant will be asked to list the works they prefer to conduct on a public concert. Efforts will be made to accommodate their wishes; however, this may not be possible and the programming decisions of Maestro Panula and/or the Masterclass administration are final.

The fee for the course is 2,700 EUR (for active participants) and 600 EUR (for auditors) excluding travel, accommodation and meals.
Please note that participants and auditors should apply for the full course -- it is not possible to register for only a portion of it.

The application form can be accessed by clicking here.

NB -- The course is limited to the first 16 qualified conductors (active participants) who:

1) Pay the application fee (non-refundable) of 45 EUR and submit their application and materials;
2) Are accepted/approved after review of their materials;
3) Confirm their intention of participation;
4) Pay a deposit of 700 EUR at the time of acceptance. This deposit will not be refunded if a conductor cancels (for ANY reason) his or her participation after 1 August 2006. The balance (2000 EUR) will be due in Kosice on the first day of the course (in cash and in EURO only, please).

Send all materials, please, as soon as possible to:
Blue Danube Musik Impresario
32-34 Strozzigasse
A-1080 Wien (Vienna)
Österreich (Austria/Europe)
Tel/Fax: +43 1 405 40 30
office@bluedanubeviolins.com

Please send the application and deposit fees via bank wire transfer or Western Union. Be sure to include your name as the sender:

BAWAG P.S.K.
Bank Address: Josefstädter Strasse 28/A-1080 Wien
Name on account: Blue Danube Violins/Musik Impresario GmbH
Account number (Kontonummer): 02010 006 026
BIC: BAWAATWW
IBAN: AT221400002010006026
Reason for payment: Course application or deposit fee

Please note: The currency used in the Slovak Republic is the Slovak Crown (SKK), not the EURO. However, the balance of the course fee and the optional excursion must be paid in EUR, please, to Blue Danube Musik Impresario. Conductors and auditors will pay their hotel expenses directly to the hotel.

Kosice, Slovakia is easily reached by air (with SkyEurope), train or auto. Prague, Budapest, Vienna and Bratislava are nearby.

Reception

HOTEL AKADEMIA
www.hotelakademia.sk

Single room with breakfast ca. 33 EUR per night.
Double room with breakfast ca. 23 EUR each person (conductors can share a double room with another conductor).
Each room has its own bath and WC.

The Hotel Akademia accepts most major credit cards and is about 12 minutes away by foot from the rehearsal and performance hall of the Kosice Philharmonic. The hotel offers a sauna and pool, a fitness center/gym, laundry services, and a restaurant and snack bar.

We may have a less expensive option accommodation available later (that will not include breakfast) but that will not be in the vicinity of the orchestra's hall. Please inquire.


Other, less expensive accomodation:
1) Turisticka ubytovna, Kosmalt (student accommodation)
www.kosmalt.sk
One night is ca. 6 EUR. With breakfast, another 2.50 EUR

2) Hotel Kohal
a) tourist accomodation = one night is ca. 11 EUR
b) Hotel accomodation = 16.40 EUR
Breakfast ca. 2.20 EUR

Neither option is close to the rehearsal and performance hall. One can either take the tram or bus or walk (about 30 minutes by foot).

Wine Cellar (1)	Wine Cellar (2)

OPTIONAL EXCURSION on Saturday, 16 September (departure at 13.00) to an authentic Tokaj Wine Cellar in Mala Trna, Slovakia - one hour (by bus) southeast of Kosice. Price of 39.50 EUR per person (based on 20 people; more if fewer wish to do this) includes the bus transport, visit to the wine cellar (with samples), and an authentic Slovak meal on the way back to Kosice (exclusive of beer wine & other drinks). Please consult www.galafruit.sk to get an idea about Tokay wine and and this particular wine cellar (it will be possible to buy wine there for discount prices).

Although the repertoire list is extensive, conductors will conduct and prepare pieces of their choice (whenever possible). They should, however, be familiar with most of the repertoire; there will be opportunities for them to "get their feet wet" with unfamiliar repertoire (to them) in a supportive and "low pressure" context.