Help Conor Launch His Conducting Career!

For someone who pursues music as a career, every moment of everyday is spent thinking about music, absorbing it, practicing, or listening. The last year with the musical world having to shut down because of the pandemic has made being a musician very challenging. My last semester of graduate studies was cut short in 2020 due to the Coronavirus, and since March 2020, I haven’t had the opportunity to perform publicly.

I began working in a bank to pay the bills, and while that experience was something that I am eternally grateful for, I can’t help but be energized by the opportunity given to get back to conducting music.

I have spent countless hours studying scores, taking virtual lessons, conducting to recordings or in a mirror, all in preparation for music to return to the concert hall.

I am so excited to announce that I have been selected to participate in two highly competitive conducting opportuntites, the Antal Dorati Conducting Competition and the Olivieri Conducting Masterclass, which will undoubtedly help me move my career forward.

In order to pursue these opportunities, I am in need of your help. My goal is to raise $5,000 to help cover the cost of participation fees and travel.

About Me:

My journey as a conductor began in undergrad at Murray State University when I became fascinated by score study and how music was put together. Through studying with my teacher, I formed my own ensembles, conducted whenever I could, and knew that I wanted to conduct professionally. That led me to complete my masters at Boston Conservatory at Berklee where I fell in love with conducting opera.

Some of my proudest accomplishments in my career thus far include assisting Boston Conservatory’s Opera Department for the last three years, working at OperaNEO in San Diego, California, and conducting alongside George Case at the Newburyport Choral Society for two consecutive seasons.

After living in Boston for three years with my pup, Harvey, we packed the car and a U-Haul and headed for the west coast, Los Angeles. This new start is allowing me to dive headfirst into music and prepare for the competition and masterclass, and I wouldn’t be able to do that without the support and love from family, friends, and mentors.

My goal in pursuing conducting is to conduct at the professional level, travel the world and make music accessible to all people. I have a passion for choral, orchestral, and opera, from the classical to contemporary composers, and reaching as wide of an audience as possible. Gone are the days of snobby classical music, cheers to music that should be enjoyed and understood by everyone.

About the Programs:

The Antal Dorati Competition is a well-established conducting competition in Budapest, Hungary. Past competitors have gone on to conduct major orchestras regularly across the world. I am very excited to compete alongside sixty of the most promising young conductors around the world.

The Olivieri Conducting Masterclass is held in Olomouc, Czech Republic with the Moravian Philharmonic Orchestra. Charles Olivieri-Munroe is an internationally recognized conductor who frequents the finest orchestras, including the Warsaw Philharmonic, Berlin Deutches Symphonie-Orchester, and Sydney Symphony Orchestra. I am very fortunate to be selected as one of nine conductors to participate and learn.

How the programs will help launch my career:

While both opportunities will help advance my career, they have their individual advantages.

The Antal Dorati Competition will allow me to build strong connections with a network of well-connected musicians, perform in front of a large audience, and conduct for a panel of well-respected conductors. The feedback and professional relationships I will gain from this experience will lead to future job opportunities and the opportunity for my name as a young conductor to be recognized by a large pool of international musicians and audiences.

The Olivieri Conducting Masterclass offers a valuable learning opportunity through study and feedback with Maestro Charles Olivieri-Munroe. Now that I have graduated, it is these types of masterclasses that give me the hand-on experience and guidance necessary to continue to refine my skills as a conductor. In addition to one-on-one training, this masterclass will also provide recordings of rehearsals and a performance that is essential for future job applications and opportunities.

Cost of Opportunities:

My goal is to raise $5,000 to help cover the expenses for this opportunity. The expenses include the fees for both the masterclass and competition, travel, housing, and transportation.

With both the competition and the masterclass just around the corner, any donation within the next two weeks is greatly appreciated. In order to fulfill the required deposits to secure my place to compete, as well as book the necessary travel arrangements, I am hoping to raise the funds by August 25th with your help.

Sharing my appreciation:

When I look back on my career, I can think of countless times that people from a concert, or those I have performed with have encouraged me, given me advice, or took me under their wing. I wouldn’t be where I am without the help of Dr. Bradley Almquist, Dr. John Dressler, Dr. George Case, and Maestro Andrew Altenbach. They all have pushed me further than I thought imaginable, and the only way I can think of repaying them for all of their help is by going out into the world and making music.

I deeply appreciate any support you are able to give. Everyone who donates will receive a handwritten card expressing my gratitude.

Those who donate over $75 will receive a postcard with an update on my work from one of the two cities I’ll be in.

If you can't make a financial donation, please show your support by sharing this fundraiser!

Thank you for supporting me in the pursuit of my career as a professional conductor.

Cheers,

Conor Whalen