Carlos Miguel Prieto
Conducting
Fellowship

Step-up your conducting career with the 6-month Artist Diploma for Music Directors.

Imagine elite-level instruction and mentorship from the world’s leading conductors and industry insiders. That’s The Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship by OAcademy.

Open to 12 top emerging conductors from around the world.

Applications open

About the Fellowship

Informed by two decades on the world’s most significant stages, from Carnegie Hall to Elbphilharmonie, the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship provides rising conductors with the formative tools to access world-class career opportunities. Fellows study physical communication (gesture), analyze core orchestra repertoire, and connect with world-class conductors, agents, managers, administrators, instrumentalists, and composers for enhanced professional guidance.

The 6-month learning experience combines online interactive sessions with elective in-person opportunities around the globe. The fellowship introduces participants to all aspects of the conducting profession, guided by one of today’s most sought-after and respected international conductors, Carlos Miguel Prieto.

Lead & Guest Faculty

Receive guidance from today's top conductors
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"This is an example of what great talent, love, and technology can achieve. It is a huge honor to be part of OAcademy, and I look forward to many, many more experiences".

Carlos Miguel Prieto

OAcademy Artist Diploma

The OAcademy Artist Diploma is tailored to the busy lives of rising musicians on the go. Offered by a select group of the world’s top music conservatories, the Artist Diploma is the universal standard of professional readiness for music performers.

The OAcademy Artist Diploma is a fast-track professional certificate that prepares rising conductors for the complex demands of an evolving performance industry. The Fellowship lasts from January to June 2025.

The experience

MENTORSHIP
Leadership training and musical guidance

OAcademy Music Director Carlos Miguel Prieto, Principal Guest Conductor Alexander Shelley

Masterclasses
Refining interpretation and analyzing scores

World-class conducting faculty

Studio Classes
Enhancing conducting technique

Fellowship Director Scott Wilson of London’s Guildhall School of Music

REPERTOIRE CLASSES
Immersively exploring core orchestral repertoire

Iconic guest conductors with OAcademy's global orchestra

INDUSTRY CLASSES
Receive career guidance and industry insights

Leading agents, managers, and music administrators

CAREER GUIDANCE
Gain knowledge from a global network of mentors

Supportive access to the entire OAcademy Music Conservatory faculty

HISTORICALLY INFORMED PERFORMANCE
Discuss performance style and historical context of key repertoire

Multiple lectures with Sir Roger Norrington

IN-PERSON RESIDENCIES
Explore a suite of global residencies

Tailored to suit individual needs, with all local expenses covered

OACADEMY CLASSES
Observe any classes within the entire conservatory

World-class faculty teaching everything from instrumental technique to industry skills

GRADUATE OPPORTUNITIES
Stay connected with our active graduate network

Opportunities to work with our partner organizations

Make OAcademy your next step

Join a dynamic network of global mentors, music sector leaders, and visionary coaches
Apply

“Led by a brilliant and passionate group of people, OAcademy is a great generator of inspiration and a superb centre of learning for the modern musician that I am immensely proud to be affiliated with.”

Alexander Shelley, Guest Conductor

Hear from our Fellows

‘Thanks to the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship, I had the opportunity to make connections with great musicians around the world. I also worked alongside inspiring conductors and connected with talented musicians who were eager to learn as much as I was.'

Tatiana Pérez Hernández (Colombia - 2022)

· Medellín Philharmonic Orchestra, Resident Conductor

· La Maestra International Conducting Competition, Semi-Finalist

‘The Carlos Miguel Prieto Fellowship prepares you beyond the podium. It not only encourages you to think critically, creatively, and globally about the challenges facing our industry, but also provides the information, access, and tools to become the ideal music leader and conductor of the future.’

Leonardo Pineda (Venezuela / USA - 2022)

· The Orchestra San Antonio, Resident Conductor

· The Orchestra NOW, Bard College, Faculty member

‘Led by excellent pedagogues and artists, the intelligently designed workshops, masterclasses and assessments challenged me to deepen my musicianship, broaden my perspective and challenge my ideas to make them more robust. I continue to draw upon the ideas and concepts I learned at CMP in my daily work as a professional conductor.’

Ingrid Martin (Australia - 2022)

· New Zealand Conductor in Residence

· Taki Alsop Conducting Fellowship Mentee

‘Being particularly interested in Historical Performance, the sessions with Sir Roger Norrington were a real blessing. I never thought I would have the opportunity to “meet” one of my greatest musical heroes. But it is hard to highlight just one, since so many of the sessions were fascinating. Both Scott Wilson and Carlos Miguel Prieto are very generous mentors who truly care about all the fellows. Their advice has been (and I am sure will remain) invaluable.’

Thibault Back de Surany (France / Austria - 2023)

· The Van Swietens, Music Director

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Who is the Conducting Fellowship for?

The Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship is a six-month, immersive journey leading to an Artist Diploma designed for twelve emerging conductors of any nationality. Applicants are likely to have undertaken prior conducting study and will already be conducting student, university, and / or community ensembles and orchestras.

The Fellowship is designed to support conductors who aspire to become ‘complete’ musicians who value integrity and depth of musicianship. An applicant’s strength might not yet be conducting technique; but it is essential that all applicants are outstanding musicians. Our Fellows see themselves as leaders-in-training who are developing a vision for the future of classical music.

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“OAcademy gave me the opportunity to learn from some of my musical heroes and taught me some essential skills my previous musical education had not touched upon”.

Thibault Back de Surany, Conducting Fellow '23

Meet OAcademy Fellows

Get to know the next generation of international conductors
Conducting Cohort

Conducting Fellowship

Contact & Help

If you have any questions about your application, please contact OAcademy Head of Learning Joana Boechat at apply@oacademy.live

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