CONDUCTING – A UNIVERSAL LANGUAGE?
Country: Germany
Can a conductor direct any group of singers and musicians – even if he does not speak their language?
This presentation will provide an overview on the historical idea of a conductor and how their role changed throughout musical history. In addition it will take a critical view to the current status of conducting and conductors.
The session will explore how conductors can express and communicate musical ideas, and demonstrate musical leadership with the body – using as few words as possible to communicate with the ensemble.
Jan Schumacher is Music director of the Goethe-University in Frankfurt as well as the conductor of Camerata Musica Limburg and the Choir of TU Darmstadt.
Having received his degree in School Music and German from Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz, Jan went on to study Conducting with Wolfgang Schäfer at the Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts. With his choirs, he builds extensive repertoires from Gregorian chants to world premieres, from symphonic orchestra to Big Band, and vocal or electronic improvisation.
Jan teaches courses for choirs, orchestras and conductors across Europe, Iceland, Iran, Turkey, Argentina, Venezuela, and the USA. His role as Vice President of the European Choral Association - Europa Cantant enables him to intensify the exchange among singers, conductors, and composers further for the benefit of choir music.