Academy
International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2026
with Helmuth Reichel Silva
September 25th to 30th, 2026 - Dresden, Germany
INFORMATION
Application deadline: July 17th, 2026
We are excited to present the fifth edition of the International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2026 with Helmuth Reichel Silva for young and advanced conducting students. The course will be held from the 25th to 30th of September 2026 in Dresden, Germany.
A maximum of 7 active participants will have the opportunity to work with Helmuth Reichel Silva in individual sessions, as well as having ensemble and orchestra time with the Universitätsorchester Dresden. The total podium time will be 140 minutes aprox. The sessions will be recorded and the videos will be discussed after the ensemble and orchestral sessions. Passive participants will be able to attend all the sessions. The orchestra sessions will take place in Lukaskirche Dresden, which is renowned for its excellent acoustics.
The masterclass will focus on several areas: individual body language, baton technique, understanding of the score, rehearsal technique and communicational skills in front of the orchestra, always encouraging each participant to further develop their own personality. After the last session, jury members of the orchestra and Helmuth Reichel Silva will select a participant, who will have the opportunity to actively work with the Universitätsorchester Dresden as assistant conductor in the season 2026/27.
The masterclass will be held in English, German and/or Spanish. Each participant is responsible for his/her own scores and should prepare the whole repertoire of the masterclass.
Age limit: 30 years old as of September 25th, 2026
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Celebrated for both his artistry on the podium and his dedication to education, Helmuth Reichel Silva is widely regarded as an outstanding mentor to the new generation of conductors. Since 2017, he has coached young talents in Germany and South America, sharing a pedagogical approach shaped by a rich international career.
As a regular guest professor at the Fundación de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles (Chile) and various Musikhochschulen in Germany, Reichel Silva offers practical insight grounded in real-world experience. His mentorship has helped students gain entry into top-tier programs and succeed in prestigious competitions and fellowships worldwide, including the Georg Solti, Herbert von Karajan, and Rotterdam competitions, as well as the German Conducting Award.
His students have also achieved international acclaim through the Dudamel Fellowship with the Los Angeles Philharmonic, the Aspen Conducting Academy, the Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship, and the Seoul Philharmonic Conducting Fellowship, among other elite global programs and festivals.
(Connect with Helmuth’s Instagram account)
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C. M. von Weber: Der Freischütz, Overture (Breitkopf & Härtel)
F. Mendelssohn: The Hebrides, Overture (Breitkopf & Härtel)
L. van Beethoven: Symphony No. 1 in C major, 1st, 2nd, and 3rd movs. (Bärenreiter)
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Friday, 25.09.2026
Arrival of participants until 13:00
13:00 - 13:30: Welcome of participants
14:00 - 17:00: Score analysis
18:00 - 20:40: Session with ensembleSaturday, 26.09.2026
10:00 - 12:40: Session with ensemble
15:00 - 18:00: Individual session without ensembleSunday, 27.09.2026
10:00 - 12:40: Session with ensemble
15:00 - 17:40: Session with ensembleMonday, 28.09.2026
10:00 - 12:30: Video analysis
19:00 - 21:40: Session with orchestraTuesday, 29.09.2026
10:00 - 12:30: Video analysis
19:00 - 21:40: Session with orchestraWednesday, 30.09.2026
10:00 - 12:30: Video analysis, final meeting -
Application fee: 25,- EUR (non-refundable)
The fee for the course is 800,- EUR for active participants and 100,- EUR for passive participants. Each participant is responsible for his/her own travel and accommodation - however, we are happy to offer free accommodation with host families if required. The selection of the active participants will be communicated via email within 7-14 days after the application deadline.
Age limit: 30 years old as of September 25th, 2026
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Application deadline: July 17th, 2026
A maximum of 7 active participants will be selected based on the online application material:
Online application form with your CV
YouTube link to a video of the participant conducting an ensemble or orchestra (max. 10 Min.)
Payment of the 25,- EUR application fee (non-refundable) via Paypal, Stripe or bank transfer to the following account:
— Account holder: Universitätsorchester Dresden
— IBAN: DE09 8505 0300 3120 2529 71
— BIC: OSDDDE81XXX
— Purpose:
“International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2026 - Application Fee, Participant Name”
* Please indicate the participant name alongside the payment!
The selection of the active participants will be communicated via email within 7-14 days after the application deadline. Passive participants do not need to send a conducting video. The fee for the selected participants (active and passive) shall be transferred to the same bank account not later than August 3rd 2026.
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Please feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions!
International Conducting Masterclass Dresden
Universitätsorchester Dresden
Academy
*Disclaimer
A definite admission to the masterclass takes place after a successful selection process. The selected participants will receive a confirmation of participation via email. The masterclass can be canceled in case of force majeure or other unforeseeable circumstances such as official restrictions in connection with pandemics as the COVID-19, travel bans or similar. Participants cannot claim compensation for travel or visa costs, etc. Participants from other countries must take care of quarantine and entry regulations themselves.