Conducting

This year, the conducting masterclasses will take place in Tallinn and Pärnu from 12 July to 23 July 2025. At the same time, Pärnu will host master classes for string, wind and percussion players. Musicians from Järvi Academy Sinfonietta, Pärnu City Orchestra, and Järvi Academy Youth Symphony Orchestra.
Pärnu International Music Festival will take place 16–25 July 2025.

Tutors: Paavo Järvi, Neeme Järvi, Kristjan Järvi, Leonid Grin

NB! When registering for courses, please provide:
– 2 YouTube links, each video lasting 10 minutes. Recordings may include mergers of repertoires.
– An edited biography for the program booklet.
– A photo in JPG format (high-resolution).
– An advance payment of €80 is required upon registration. NB! Failure to make the payment will result in the registration not being considered.

Active participant
16 active participants will be selected, and their work programme will include:
– At least 100 minutes of work with pianos and various orchestras of the Järvi Academy (12 July – 23 July 2025).
– Conducting two concerts in Tallinn and Pärnu. Participants will be selected by the tutors on the day before the concert. Each active participant can conduct at least one concert. The organiser does not guarantee an equal number of concerts for all participants.
– Lectures.

Active participants will be selected for the courses by Paavo Järvi.
Sessions will be held at MUBA (Pärnu mnt 59, Tallinn) and Pärnu Concert Hall (Aida 4, Pärnu). Participants are allowed to film all sessions.

Student
Two students will be selected with a work progamme including:
– At least 50 minutes of work with pianos and various orchestras of the Järvi Academy (12 July – 23 July 2025).
– Concerts in Tallinn and Pärnu. Generally, students do not conduct at the concerts, but there have been exceptions.
– Lectures.

Passive participant
Those who receive a negative answer can participate as passive applicants, with a work programme including:
– One podium time with Leonid Grin (with pianos).
– Lectures.

Observers:
Guests are welcome to attend the masterclasses as observers. The fee is €30 per day, payable in cash on the spot.

Programme:

1st programme

Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart – Symphony No. 35 in D major, K. 385 – Breitkopf & Härtel

Joseph Haydn – Symphony No. 92 in G major “Oxford”, Hob.I:92 – Breitkopf & Härtel

Arvo Pärt – Greater Antiphons – Universal Edition

Edward Elgar – Serenade for String Orchestra, Op. 20

Edward Elgar – Sospiri, Op. 70

2nd Programme:

Arvo Pärt – Kui Bach oleks mesilasi pidanud /If Bach had been a beekeeper… – Universal Edition, 2021

Franz Lehár – Gold and Silver Waltz, Op. 79 – Kalmus

Ludwig van Beethoven – Piano Concerto No. 3 in C minor, Op. 37 – Breitkopf & Härtel

Johannes Brahms – Symphony No. 3 in F major, Op. 90 – Breitkopf & Härtel

Participation Fees:

Active participant: €2400
Student: €1200
Passive participant: €600
Observer: €30 per day

The registration deadline is 10 April 2025. Results will be announced by the end of April.

The deadline for payment of the participation fee is 10 May 2025. Late payment will result in a proposal for active participation to the next applicant.

Bank account details:
Recipient: Pärnu Music Festival MTÜ
Address: Vambola 5, Pärnu, 80026 Pärnu county, Estonia
Bank: SEB Bank
Bank code: EEUHEE2X (SWIFT)
Bank account number (IBAN): EE31 1010 2201 2382 5013

Additional information

When registering for the courses, we recommend that you plan to attend the closing concert of the festival on 25 July 2025 and the reception afterwards.

Accommodation
Participation fee does not include accommodation. Due to high demand in Pärnu during the summer, please book well in advance.

Catering: the participation fee includes lunch and dinner in Tallinn and Pärnu. Further details will be sent to all participants by newsletter.

Tickets to the festival concerts: free entry to the festival concerts is available for active participants, students and passive participants with pre-registration. The organiser does not guarantee access to all EFO concerts, except for the closing concert (with pre-registration).