International Conducting Competition Rotterdam Announces Semi Finalists

In total, 24 semi finalists have been selected to compete for the final €15,000 grand prix and career opportunities 

The semi-finals of the 2nd International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) will take place from June 17–19, 2024, where six conductors will be selected for a year-long career development program before the finals in 2025. 

The first-round jury, comprising Sian Edwards, Ara Guzelimian, Ulrike Niehoff, Ed Spanjaard, Elmar Weingarten, and George Wiegel, viewed performances of all 175 candidates from across 54 countries. 

To perform with the Sinfonia Rotterdam, the 24 semi finalists are:

• Polina Lebedieva (Ukraine)
• Aleksandra Melaniuk (Poland)
• Yukuang Jin (China)
• Roc Fargas I Castells (Spain)
• Sam Weller (Australia)
• Mateusz Gwizdalla (Poland/Australia)
• Andreas Hansson (Sweden)
• Jakub Przybycień (Poland)
• Sasha Scolnik-Brower (USA)
• David Fernández Caravaca (Spain)
• Matthew Rhodes (Sweden/UK)
• Luis Castillo-Briceño (Costa Rica)
• Sebastiaan Van Yperen (Netherlands)
• Sunny Xuecong Xia (China)
• Miguel Sepúlveda (Portugal)
• Minchao Cai (China)
• Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán (Mexico)
• Juya Jooyeon Shin (South Korea)
• Leif Tse (Canada)
• Linhan Cui (China)
• Maximilian Otto (Germany)
• Chunyi Zhao (China)
• Na’zir Mcfadden (USA)
• Zofia Kiniorska (Poland)

In the finals from June 1–13, 2025, 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.