Study Abroad in Vratsa, Bulgaria for Conducting Program

Hi, I’m Anna Bracciano and I am extremely excited to be going to Bulgaria and the Balkan Mountains for 3 weeks in August 2024 to participate in the European Academy of Fine Arts Summer Conducting Program. This conducting experience will allow me to grow in musical knowledge and to further develop my young conducting skills. Each of the 12 students will have podium time of up to 7 hours with opera soloists, pianists and a local symphony, and have the honor of working 1 on 1 with international professional conductors, including Malcolm Yuen (Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra), Derek Gleeson (Dublin Philharmonic Orchestra), Christo Pavlov (Vratsa Symphony Orchestra) and Nikola Petrov (Vratsa Symphony Orchestra). The ultimate highlight will be conducting during one of four live concerts in Vratsa and Pleven, Bulgaria.

There will be a great deal of preparation prior to leaving for Bulgaria. I have to study and prepare 9 overtures and 15+ arias to conduct for the faculty upon arrival. My assignment of only a few of these will be given to me after the first 3 days, at which time I will begin perfecting the pieces under the oversight and guidance from the faculty. Some of the overtures I will be working on, and potentially conducting, include Symphony No. 4 (Brahms), Symphony No.1 (Beethoven), Unfinished Symphony (Schubert), and a few of the arias are from the operas of Don Giovanni and Carmen. This is all incredibly exciting and also somewhat stressful. However, I am so ready for this challenge and look forward to returning to Missouri State University for my senior year ready to share my experiences and continue the path toward a May 2025 graduation.

My interest in music started when I was very young, but my real passion for the classical genre, orchestral works, opera and conducting took its true form while I have been at Missouri State University. I want to make a difference in the music world, and I have been inspired daily by incredible, progressive, articulate, and perceptive music professors at MSU. I am always excited to learn and thrive on discovering new information and skills as it relates to my field and how it fits into today’s world. That is why I am so excited for this conducting experience! All the money I raise will go toward the $7500 tuition and $2150 airfare, plus used for other travel and living expenses during my 3-week adventure. I would very much appreciate any help you can give me ~ thank you for your consideration!

https://www.eafa.iamu.edu/theconductinginstitute/conducting-summer-program