International Conducting Competition Rotterdam Narrows Down its Semi-Finalists

The second round of the semi-finals were streamed LIVE on The Violin Channel on June 19

The semi-finals of the 2nd International Conducting Competition Rotterdam (ICCR) are currently underway in the Netherlands.

After an exciting two days of competition in the concert hall, De Doelen, the jury has announced the twelve conductors who made it to the second semi-final round on Wednesday, June 19. They are:

• Luis Castillo Briceñ
• Andreas Hansson
• Yukuang Jin
• Zofia Kiniorska
• Maximilian Otto
• Jakub Przybycień
• Matthew Rhodes
• Rodrigo Sámano Albarrán
• Miguel Sepúlveda
• Juya Jooyeon Shin
• Sam Weller
• Peggy Wu

For available to watch now on The Violin Channel, all semi-finalists must be prepared to conduct Rossini's Overture Il Signor Bruschino, Rossini's Overture La Scala di Seta, Stravinsky's Symphony in D (1st movement -Vivace), and Bartók's Divertimento for Strings, BB118 (1st movement - Allegro non troppo). The candidates are informed of the piece they are requested to conduct right before going on stage.

After the conclusion of the semi-final rounds, six conductors will be selected for a year-long career development program.

Then, in the finals from June 1–13, 2025, the 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.