G.P. - Tag - master class

Looking Back at the Conducting Year 2007

Sasha Mäkilä — Tue, 01 Jan 2008 18:10:00 +0100

On the first day of 2008 it is nice to look back at the events of the past year! My year was so exhausting and eventful - I had some 15 concert performances in Finland, Russia and USA, took part in 3 international conducting competitions, took part in two master classes, organized some myself, and won an audition in France! Anyway the thing I am most happy about is the fact that this year I quit my day jobs (sorry all ex-colleagues!) and became a full-time professional conductor! I had felt for some time already that working weekly with young students and amateurs was holding back my progress (a topic for a whole post later, I can assure). Now, though financially much more insecure, I feel better because I am able to concentrate 100% in becoming a better conductor!

Even though not a full-time position, the assistantship I won with maestro Kurt Masur and the Orchestre National de France was the most important single factor in making my decision. And the encouragement I got from maestro Yuri Simonov on his masterclass kind of sealed it off! I am forever grateful to both of them, and to a big bunch of other people, including my conducting teachers in Finland and Russia, my supportive friends and colleagues, and my family of course.

The coming year seems, if possible, even more interesting and challenging than the previous one. Some concerts have already been planned, and I have applied to a couple of competitions too. On top of that I have to settle in a completely new environment and learn a new language! I foresee a lot of hard work, but I am sure with that I will also reap a lot of rewards and be wiser and richer at the end of the road!

Summarizing my Conducting Year 2007

JANUARY
3 children's concerts with Pori Sinfonietta, Kapsäkki, Petri Ikkelä and Kosti Kotiranta. 2 concerts with Saimaa Sinfonietta (combined Lappeenranta and Mikkeli orchestras), soloist Olli-Pekka Tuomisalo.

FEBRUARY
Diploma concert with Pori Sinfonietta, soloist Olli Leppäniemi. Master class and concert with the Orchestra of the Estonian Defence Forces.

MARCH
Opera gala of the Sibelius Academy conducting class, soloist Hedvig Paulig. Singing in the choir for Sibelius Academy 125-year jubilee concert. Audition at Radio France for the assistantship with Kurt Masur at the Orchestre National de France.

APRIL
Mostly studying, plus some choral singing with Veli-Antti's choir and orchestra...

MAY
Concert with Finnish Guards Orchestra, soloist Eero Saunamäki. Concert at the 4th Nordic Music Festival, with Hermitage orchestra and Kari Kriikku. Evgeny Svetlanov Conducting Competition in Luxembourg.

JUNE
Hot Springs Music Festival in USA.

JULY
Yuri Simonov Master Class in Budapest, Hungary.

AUGUST
Working at "Hausmusikwoche". Organizing a Master Class for maestro Leonid Korchmar.

SEPTEMBER
Lovro von Matacic competition in Zagreb, Croatia.

OCTOBER
A project with a flute ensemble, preparing for Fitelberg competition...

NOVEMBER
Fitelberg competition in Katowice, Poland.

DECEMBER
A concert in Petrozavodsk, Russia. Two concerts with St Michel Strings, in Hirvensalmi and Mikkeli.

Leonid Korchmar master class, day 5/5

Sasha Mäkilä — Thu, 30 Aug 2007 22:55:00 +0200

The master class is finally over, and everything went perfectly! I have been resting for two days now after we finished everything, but still I am exhausted and overwhelmed by everything that happened during the past week.

On the last day everyone was working as hard as ever, and because of my coming competition in Zagreb I even had to give our faculty pianists some prima vista to play. Professor Korchmar insisted I should try the pieces out now that I have a chance!

After the last lesson we went to Manfred's place and had a great masterclass finishing party. I gave everyone a diploma and there were some nice speeches, and of course a lot of food, drink and informal chat... All the participants were enthusiastic about the new experience and eager to plan the next master class already! Professor Korchmar was also happy with all the arrangements and promised to return soon. It seems like we are establishing a tradition here! I am very happy for everyone who participated, because the style and quality of teaching we received during past five days was so different and refreshing compared to what we usually get in Finland. The Russians really know how to make studying interesting - and demanding...

Leonid Korchmar master class, day 4/5

Sasha Mäkilä — Mon, 27 Aug 2007 23:20:00 +0200

Today I had invited a singer to my master class session, to try out the Leonore's aria from Fidelio. The session was very helpful, and at the same time proved me how very difficult it is to be a good accompanist! You have to be aware of the singer's breathing all the time, never unnecessarily hurry her or hold her back, be always relaxed yourself to provoke relaxedness and good breathing in a singer etc. etc. Practically you need to know the score by heart to be with the singer 100% of the time!

Everyone else seems to be learning a lot too. The Russian style of teaching in general works with multiple levels at the same time: Each students gets helpful advice to his specific problems. The people with tension get more and more relaxed, the people with phlegmatic hands conduct more focused and energetic. Sometimes the emphasis is on the accompaniment and the rhythm, sometimes in the melody and building the line. Sometimes Maestro Korchmar talks about breathing and transmitting energy from the center of your body. And all of this is been combined all the time, fluently moving from one topic to another! The intensity of the teaching is something quite different from what we are used to in Finland, and that is the fantastic side of it. After a short master class like this we are left with a lot of impressions, a lot of fuel to use during the following weeks and months.

Leonid Korchmar master class, day 3/5

Sasha Mäkilä — Sun, 26 Aug 2007 22:21:00 +0200

Today I realized that making a master class is work! Yes, I used to think that the persons who are just hanging around master classes as a some kind of a "secretary" are there really for no reason. Today I understood that, really, there has to be some person who is ready to answer all questions, organize schedule changes, take care of finding a place to have lunch, etc. and this person has to be available all the time!

The bad thing is, that this time this person had to be me at the same time as I am trying to learn some new repertoire. Studying your own things has proved to be pretty much impossible during the past days. Here is a little video clip that shows what happens when someone calls and wants to come and listen to the lessons...

Phone rings during the conducting master class

Otherwise everything has been really perfect and I even started to feel a bit proud of myself for finally organizing this event instead of whining to the people working in the Sibelius Academy for not being interested enough. I want to encourage everyone: If you know a good teacher (especially a conducting teacher - good ones are so rare today!), invite him to teach, make a small effort to do everything by yourself. It will pay off!

Leonid Korchmar master class, day 2/5

Sasha Mäkilä — Sat, 25 Aug 2007 20:07:00 +0200

Our faculty: Professor Korchmar in the middle, between the course pianists Taru and Jari

Petri getting "hands-on" instruction

Professor and Heikki: "Relax your arm, keep on moving..."
"Give a cue with your eyebrows only..."
Discussing Beethoven's second symphony with Anna