Conducting Masterclass

led by Ilona Dobszay-Meskó

international conducting masterclass
in Budapest, Hungary
from August 22 to 27, 2026

109 minutes of orchestral conducting time

We cordially invite conductors hoping to elevate their skills, improve their conducting and rehearsal techniques, and seeking to develop a rich and diversified artistic range.

Throughout the course, participants will engage in a daily exercise routine to enhance coordination, structure, and precision in their conducting. They can hone their communication style and rehearsal techniques in a friendly, warm environment provided by a supportive orchestra. In this comprehensive program, the instructor will offer a wide array of methodological tools suitable for any skill level.
The range of musical expression will be expanded with associative methods and personality development techniques.

Participants will be able to enhance their expression of the narrative and drama of music by mastering the art of conveying the gestures and characters of the musical piece. With practice techniques focusing on in-the-moment, participants will learn to overcome any stage fright-related attention issues.

Each participant will receive personalized training tailored to their unique needs, ensuring a valuable educational experience.
The course ends with a concert with the participants conducting.

Ilona Dobszay-Meskó
conductor and composer, recipient of the Erkel Ferenc Award and the Artisjus Award for Contemporary Classical Music

With over twenty years of experience in composition, conducting education, and orchestral work, she regularly leads her own international conducting masterclasses, focusing on the integration of compositional thinking and conducting practice.

ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS

Improvement of conducting technique

The course is designed to improve conducting techniques, and participants will be provided with opportunities, methods, and exercises to develop expressive and efficient conducting movements. Some participants might feel that their current technique requires correction; the course will equip them with conducting etudes which they can continue practicing independently even after the course concludes.

Improvement of rehearsal technique

Another key focus of the course is to improve leading rehearsals. Participants will learn how to effectively communicate with an orchestra, develop a rehearsal plan, and achieve their desired musical results. We will explore the critical role of mirror neurons. Moreover, the course leader share insights from her experience with the new field of applying modern pedagogical methods on orchestra conducting.

Improvement of musical expressions

The course dedicates significant attention to broadening the participants’ musical range and expression. With associative methods and personality development techniques will be used by the course leader to help participants dive deeply into the emotional and narrative meaning of music, enhancing their ability to express it more vividly.

Improvement of communication skills

The course will be held in a friendly, warm environment, collaborating with a supportive orchestra. This will help participants improve their cooperation and communication. They will learn how to develop a good relationship with the orchestra, other people, and to communicate effectively to achieve their musical vision.

Personalized training

Each participant will receive personalized training tailored to their unique needs. The masterclass will address the needs and improvement areas of each participant, helping them progress. Each participant will receive continuous feedback as we monitor the steps of their development.

All active participants will have the opportunity to perform at the final concert in Goldmark Hall Budapest. The movements to be conducted at the concert will be chosen by the course leader.

Maximum number of active participants: 10

These unique benefits of the course will help participants improve their conducting and rehearsal skills, expand their musical range and musical expression, improve their communication skills, and receive personalized training that supports their development.

The orchestra

Danube Symphony Orchestra

The Danube Symphony Orchestra, founded in 1961 in Budapest, is a professional Hungarian state ensemble with a broad repertoire spanning from Baroque to contemporary music. The orchestra performs regularly at major venues in Budapest and across Hungary, and appears internationally throughout Europe.

In addition to its concert activity, the orchestra is active in opera, operetta, ballet, and oratorio productions, and serves as the practice orchestra for the conducting department of the Liszt Academy of Music.

https://www.dso-org.com/copy-of-who-we-are

List of works

Venue

Mozart: Don Giovanni – Overture
Verdi: La forza del destino – Overture
J. Strauss II: Die Fledermaus – Overture
Bartók: Hungarian Pictures
Kodály: Dances of Galánta
Mussorgsky / Rimsky-Korsakov: Night on Bald Mountain
Ravel: Pavane pour une infante défunte
Mascagni: Intermezzo from Cavalleria rusticana

Course venue: Danube Symphony Orchestra – 1105 Budapest X., Halom utca 42.
The closing concert will take place at The Riding Hall at the Stables, Gödöllő

Agenda

The participants receive 110 minutes of lessons with the course professor and 4 pianists.
101 minutes of orchestral conducting time with the Danube Symphony Orchestra during the course
+ 7-9 minutes conducting time at the Concert.

Tuition fees

1700 € Registration + Participation fee

Deadline: 30 May

1700 € Registration + Participation fee

270 € Participation fee

Application and participation rules

The conducting course will be held in English.
Participation in the course is subject to the submission of an application form and selection by the course leader.
The course fee consists of two parts:
a registration fee of 510 EUR, payable upon acceptance, and
a remaining course fee of 1,190 EUR, payable within the deadline indicated in the confirmation email.
Please note that the application fee and the course fee must be transferred to different bank accounts. Detailed payment information will be provided in the confirmation email.
Once selected, participants are required to pay the application fee within 7 days of receiving the confirmation email. The course fee must be paid within the deadline indicated in the same email.
To apply, please submit the following information via the application form: full name, date and place of birth, contact details, a brief introduction in English, and (for active participants) a video recording (YouTube link only) of a rehearsal or performance. The video should preferably show the conductor from the front. Participants are free to use their own recording equipment; professional video submission is not required.
Please note that it is not possible to submit additional materials after the application has been sent. Incomplete applications or applications received after the deadline will not be considered.
Accommodation, travel, and meals are the responsibility of the participants. However, we are happy to provide recommendations for reasonably priced accommodation upon request.
The opening session of the course will take place on 22 August at 10:00 (Budapest time).
Sessions are held daily between 10:00 and 18:00. A detailed schedule will be sent to all participants after successful enrolment.
The course will conclude with a public concert. Video and audio recordings can be arranged by the orchestra upon request and are available for purchase.
By submitting an application, applicants accept the terms and conditions set out in the declaration and the privacy policy.

Application deadline: 28 July 2026.

masterclass@ilonamesko.com

PARTICIPANTS' feedback from previous courses

"Ilona’s course granted me the opportunity to learn essential beat techniques as well as various forms of expression and communication. At that time, this wealth of information was almost overwhelming to me, but it proved to be crucial for my development as a conductor. The structure and the details of the course captured my attention even then. In addition to serving as a professional networking place, the course was an excellent opportunity to build new relationships. I still stay in touch with several conductors I met there. Ilona generously hosted her students at the end of the course, we spent wonderful evenings together. "

"I look back on Dobszay Meskó Ilona’s courses with joy and gratitude. I attended her programs every year since 2011. Her summer school programs granted me my first conducting experiences with a professional orchestra. She amazed us with her intense focus, exceptional quality of work, and outstanding mentorship. Ilona’s sensitive and mature sense of music left a lasting impression on all of us. Her approach is further enriched by her unique perspective, not just as a conductor and pianist, but also as an outstanding composer. Each year, the atmosphere among Ilona, her students, and the orchestra was pleasant, friendly, yet focused. This was all thanks to Ilona’s attentiveness, openness, and approachable nature. "

"I like your way of teaching because it is gentle and rich in the time. I learned so many things about conducting in this masterclass, but I also learned a professional and kindly way of teaching."

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