Applications Open for the 2025 Solti Conducting Fellow

The award offers a $30,000 grant, payable over two years, to an emerging U.S. conductor aged 36 or below

One of the largest grants available to young conductors, the Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award was founded in 2004. It offers career guidance, industry connections, and a cash stipend of $30,000 to support recipients who want to hone their skills and establish their careers.

In order to apply, conductors must be citizens or permanent residents of the United States, no older than 36 years of age on the application deadline of January 25, 2025, and currently developing a career as a symphonic or operatic conductor.

The grant is flexible and can cover the cost of further studies, language study, the purchase of scores, or travel. As well as these material opportunities, the award also brings door-opening introductions within the industry, since its Board of Directors comprises experts from all areas of classical music.

To apply, conductors should submit a resume, two typed references, a proposal for the use of the grant money, and video footage of rehearsal or live performance of their conducting, of approximately 30 minutes in length. More information is available on the application page, and applications must be received by January 5, 2025.

Candidates who reach the final round but are not given the award may also be considered for the Solti U.S. Career Assistance Awards, which will cover some smaller projects at the discretion of the committee.

Previous recipients of the Solti Award include François López-Ferrer, Keitaro Harada, Earl Lee, Gemma New, Aram Demirjian, Yaniv Dinur, Roderick Cox, Christopher Allen, Karina Canellakis, Vladimir Kulenovic, Cristian Macelaru, James Feddeck, Case Scaglione, Eric Nielsen, and Anthony Barrese.