Young Musicians Step onto the Podium at Conducting Camp 2026
Ten accomplished young musicians stepped onto the podium for a three-day workshop from 6 to 8 October 2026. It was the very first Conducting Camp presented by Concerts for All in partnership with the Sydney Concert Orchestra (SCO) – a collaboration born out of the two organisations' shared vision for expansive and creative musical development. The SCO's principal conductor, Omid Moheb-Zadeh, led the program, assisted by Daniel Parkee across the three days.
Accomplished Players, First-Time Conductors
Each student arrived with an impressive instrumental track record. They hold advanced grades and diplomas across piano, violin, cello, organ, woodwinds and percussion. Conducting, however, was uncharted ground for almost all of them: eight of the ten participants had never held a baton before, and the other two had only explored the basics.
The participants and their instruments:
Aiden Zhang (9) – Cello
Eason Zhuo (17) – Piano, Organ, Violin
Henry Fong (14) – Violin
Ian Yan (12) – Violin, Clarinet
Irene Hong Zhang (13) – Violin, Viola
Isabella Guo (13) – Piano, Organ, Harpsichord, Percussion
Kathy Piao (9) – Piano, Violin, Flute, Marimba
Lucas Ran (13) – Viola, Cello, Violin
Tina He (13) – Piano, Violin
Zandre Coussy (12) – Violin, Piano
Everyone brought such mature musicianship to the table, along with their curiosity and enthusiasm – whether they were discussing scores, rehearsing, giving feedback, or actively conducting. Because they already understood music so well, they were ready to face the complexities of conducting head-on. They made remarkable progress throughout the entire short course – evolving quickly from the mechanics of time-beating to master the deeper challenges of score study, musical expression, and clear ensemble communication.
Three Days of Immersion
The workshop took place at Master Music Studio in Glebe from 6 to 8 October 2026. The curriculum introduced the basics, through to the intricacies of musical expression:
Day 1: Foundations
Establishing posture, baton hold, prep beats, core patterns, and learning how to read full scores across multiple clefs
Day 2: Expression & Rehearsal
Shaping the dynamics with the entrance, cue entries, managing accents, communicating with the ensemble
Day 3: Podium & Live Ensemble
Conducting the string quintet from the Sydney Concert Orchestra, with Omid offering live feedback and refinement
Omid Moheb- Zadeh, Sydney Concert Orchestra Principal Conductor and Artistic Director Omid Moheb-Zadeh with the quintet from Sydney Concert Orchestra
The students took a break from their training each day to walk down to the nearby Sydney Fish Market for lunch together. These breaks gave everyone time to unwind, swap notes and forge friendships across different age groups and instruments.
Lunch at the Sydney Fish Market (Day 1) Lunch at the Sydney Fish Market (Day 2)
The Final Showcase: Conducting with an Audience
The camp finished on Thursday afternoon with a showcase for family and friends. Each participant directed the professional string quintet from the Sydney Concert Orchestra. They selected from the following works:
W.A. Mozart – Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K. 525
Béla Bartók – Romanian Folk Dances, Sz. 68
Antonín Dvořák – String Quintet No. 2 in G major, Op. 77
Of the three, Mozart's Eine kleine Nachtmusik was the most popular among the conducting participants, with three conducting the Dvořák, and one for the Bartók:
The progression from the first day's tentative beats to the final day's expressive, confident communication was a joy to watch. While the experience certainly pushed the students out of their comfort zones, each young conductor brought their own musical personality to the podium. They successfully guided the quintet with their freshly acquired skills and unique interpretations.
Aiden Zhang Aiden Zhang Aiden Zhang Eason Zhuo Eason Zhuo Eason Zhuo Henry Fong Henry Fong Henry Fong Ian Yan Ian Yan Ian Yan Irene Hong Zhang Irene Hong Zhang Irene Hong Zhang Isabella Guo Isabella Guo Isabella Guo Kathy Piao Kathy Piao Kathy Piao Lucas Ran Lucas Ran Lucas Ran Tina He Tina He Tina He Zandre Coussy Zandre Coussy Zandre Coussy
In Their Words: Conducting Experience & Reflections
The participants expressed their gratitude for the opportunity to step onto the podium. While "I learned a lot!" was the most frequent piece of feedback, many students also described the experience as challenging – and occasionally terrifying, according to Ian – yet ultimately empowering and enjoyable. The group walked away with fresh approaches to studying music, stylistic interpretation, and a newfound respect for the intricacies of conducting and ensemble collaboration. "I thought conducting would be just waving your hand," said Zandre, "but it's a lot more complicated than what you think."
Upcoming Projects & Partnerships
We couldn't be prouder of the curiosity, focus and artistry this group brought to our first Conducting Camp! Inspired by this success, Concerts for All and the Sydney Concert Orchestra plan to organise more Conducting Camps – the next tentatively scheduled for January 2027 – and various music training workshops. These initiatives aim to help growing classical musicians step outside the solitary practice room and expand their artistry through ensemble leadership and musical creativity or exploration.
Our sincere thanks go to Omid Moheb-Zadeh, Daniel Parkee, and the musicians of the Sydney Concert Orchestra for their wonderful partnership and support in bringing this project to life.
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