Our team

“I learned more in a week than in seven years of full-time study”

The Conductors’ Academy has developed under the joint direction of Jonathan Brett and Maciej Żółtowski, both former students of the legendary Russian conductor, Yuri Simonov, who acts as consultant to Conductors’ Academy.

Both directors are performers with a wide range of experience in countries all over the world. As teachers they share their knowledge with complete frankness and generosity of spirit. Our Budapest-based partner organisation for classes since 2019, the Solti Chamber Orchestra, is a group of great skill and sensitivity which – apart from playing brilliantly, of course – is incredibly friendly and supportive to the participants.

Jonathan Brett

As a performer, Jonathan Brett is known for his exceptional interpretative insight and flair combined with brilliance and clarity of technique. Added to a rare sense of daring, these attributes mean that his performances are imbued with a real sense of adventure. As a teacher, he is noted for exceptional knowledge about connecting gesture and sound and the clarity of his explanations as to how this can be most effectively achieved.

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Maciej Żółtowski

One of the most versatile and visionary conductors of his generation, Maciej Żółtowski is noted particularly for his interest in the music of the 20th and 21st centuries. Being himself a composer, he has developed strong links with the contemporary music scene as well as with leading interpreters and the breadth and diversity of his knowledge allows him an unprecedented insight into the music he conducts.

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Mastering Time

Like stage magic, conducting is an activity steeped in mystery – many see the results but the complexity of the processes means that it is one of perpetual learning. This series of presentations explores the component tasks, exposes some of the myths, analyses the challenges and examines the principles underlying the connection between gesture and high quality sound.

In the words of one of our past participants: "This is a course for people who want their music to be the best it can possibly be – for the orchestra, for the composer, for the audience and for themselves. This course is about what really works and is taught by someone for whom it really does."

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