Academy
International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2025
with Helmuth Reichel Silva
September 26th to October 1st, 2025 - Dresden, Germany
INFORMATION
Application deadline: July 14th, 2025
We are excited to present the fourth edition of the International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2025 with Helmuth Reichel Silva for young and advanced conducting students. The course will be held from the 26th of September to 1st of October 2025 in Dresden, Germany.
A maximum of 8 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 2025/26.
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 26th, 2025
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Celebrated not only for his artistry on the podium but also for his dedication to education, Helmuth Reichel Silva is widely regarded as an outstanding mentor to the new generation of conductors. Since 2017, he has actively coached young talents in Germany and South America, sharing a pedagogical approach shaped by a rich and diverse international career.
As a regular guest professor at the Fundación de Orquestas Juveniles e Infantiles and the Universidad Alberto Hurtado in Chile, Reichel Silva is known for his clear, thoughtful teaching and deep understanding of the technical and interpretive demands of conducting. His teaching style is grounded in real-world experience—from high-profile performances and opera productions to competition juries and auditions—allowing him to offer practical insight alongside artistic inspiration.
Reichel Silva’s mentorship has helped numerous students gain entry into top-tier European conducting programs and succeed in prestigious international competitions such as the Georg Solti Conducting Competition Frankfurt, the Herbert von Karajan Young Conductors Award, and the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam.
(Connect with Helmuth’s Instagram account)
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P. I. Tchaikovsky: Romeo and Juliet, Fantasy Overture (3rd Version 1880)
L. van Beethoven: Symphony Nr. 2 D Major, 1st and 2nd mov. (Bärenreiter)
A. Dvořák: Symphony Nr. 9 E minor, 1st mov. (Breitkopf & Härtel)
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Friday, 26.09.2025
Arrival of the participants until 14:00
14:00 - 14:30: Welcome meeting
14:30 - 17:30: Score analysis
18:00 - 21:00: Individual sessions without ensembleSaturday, 27.09.2025
10:00 - 13:00: Session with ensemble
15:00 - 18:00: Session with ensembleSunday, 28.09.2025
10:00 - 13:00: Session with ensemble
15:00 - 18:00: Session with ensembleMonday 29.09.2025
10:00 - 12:30: Video analysis
19:00 - 22:00: Session with orchestraTuesday 30.09.2025
10:00 - 12:30: Video analysis
19:00 - 22:00: Session with orchestraWednesday 01.10.2025
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 seven days after the application deadline.
Age limit: 30 years old as of September 26th, 2025
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Application deadline: July 14th, 2025
A maximum of 8 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, credit card 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 2025 - Application Fee, Participant Name”
* Please indicate the participant name alongside the payment!
The selection of the active participants will be communicated via email within seven 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 1st 2025.
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Please feel free to contact us anytime if you have questions!
International Conducting Masterclass Dresden 2025
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 the COVID-19 pandemic, 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.