As a part of my Sibelius Academy studies I did a short student exchange in Copenhagen in 2005, at the Royal Danish Academy of Music (Det kongelige danske musikkonservatorium, DKDM for short). My teacher there was Frans Rasmussen, seen conducting in the video clip above. He is a great fellow and really an intelligent and supportive teacher, and I think the program at their school is simply marvelous.

In addition to the lessons with a student orchestra, the school has made a deal with all Danish orchestras which provided the students with a possibility to have master classes with them during their studies. During my stay I conducted the Aarhus Symphony Orchestra and the Danish Royal Guards Orchestra within this framework.

Also the Copenhagen Opera is with the DKDM in the project to provide best possible conductor training to their students. Every student will assist in a real opera production before completing their studies! That is simply fantastic, and besides Copenhagen only the St Petersburg Conservatory has a similar principle as to my knowledge.