Conductor

Typical activities would include: leading a group of musicians; studying and preparing musical scores and sets of parts for rehearsal and performance; practising; planning musical programmes and publicity for performances; and organising rehearsals and concerts.

Other activities include: training choirs and choristers, in church settings; auditioning instrumentalists and singers for membership of ensembles and/or solo opportunities; and writing programme notes and other material.

For conductors, earning power depends on ability, reputation and mobility.

Once established, a concert conductor can receive earnings from a variety of sources including commissions, recording contracts, broadcasts and sales of recordings.

Other sources of income initially are competitions and awards.

If you want to specialise in conducting you should take every opportunity to practise with local amateur groups. Not only will this help you to judge whether or not it is really for you, it will also enable you to develop your technique and extend your range of contacts.

It is invaluable to have experience of playing or singing in an ensemble in order to observe how conductors achieve their results.

There is also much to be gained from attending rehearsals as an observer and many professional orchestras are willing to allow access to rehearsals.

Investigate summer courses as these offer high-quality training as well as the opportunity to share ideas with other students of conducting.

Occasionally orchestras or professional choirs offer trainee conductorships, and some musicians may succeed in switching to conducting after a period as an orchestral player or soloist.

Conductors are listed in the ISM Register of Performers and Composers. See also their section on careers in music.