International Conducting Competition Rotterdam Announces 6 Designate Winners

Six young conductors were selected for a year-long career development program and will compete in the Final round in 2025

Twenty-four promising conductors performed in de Doelen with Sinfonia Rotterdam during the semi-finals of the International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) — which are now available to watch on The Violin Channel,

From the 24 semifinalists, 6 designate winners were selected for a year-long career development program:

• Luis Castillo Briceñ
• Yukuang Jin
• Jakub Przybycień
• Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán
• Miguel Sepúlveda
• Sam Weller

In the finals from June 1–13, 2025, these six conductors will conduct five separate rounds in genres from opera to symphonic works with ensembles including the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, Klangforum Wien, Orchestra of the 18th Century, and Laurens Symphony Chorus.

The Grand Prix is worth €15,000, while five special prizes at €3,000 will include one for each of the final rounds: Proms Open Air Concert, Contemporary Music, Classical, Opera, and Large Symphonic Works.

More awards include the Audience Award of €2,000 and the Performance Award for each of the six selected conductors from the semifinal round with €5,000 each.

The 2024 jury comprises Roberta Alexander, Marieke Blankestijn, Deborah Borda, Han-Na Chang, Brett Dean, Sian Edwards, Gaetan Le Divelec, Wolfgang Fink, Iván Fischer, Dame Jane Glover, Ara Guzelimian, Antony Hermus, Tisa Ho, Vimbayi Kaziboni, Sophie De Lint, Stephan Macleod, Johan De Meij, Cathy Milliken, Ulrike Niehoff, Andrés Orozco-Estrada, Christina Pluhar, Pamela Rosenberg, Kwamé Ryan, Ed Spanjaard, Elmar Weingarten, George Wiegel, Eric Whitacre, Bas Wiegers, Mark Williams, and Yip Wing-Sie.