(Central News Agency, reporter Zhao Jingyu, Taipei, 10th) The National Taiwan Symphony Orchestra (NTSO), in its efforts to cultivate young conductors, has invited American conducting master David Zinman to hold an online conducting masterclass. Through the real-time connection capabilities of the NTSO's digital concert hall, Zinman will instruct three Taiwanese conducting students.

David Zinman, who is nearly 90 years old, is a renowned American conductor and multiple Grammy Award winner. He has served as Music Director for the Rotterdam Philharmonic Orchestra, the Zurich Tonhalle Orchestra, and others. He is also deeply committed to music education, having held conducting masterclasses at the Aspen Music Festival in the US and in Zurich, nurturing many outstanding young conductors, including NTSO Principal Guest Conductor Shui Lan and Taiwanese-American conductor Chen Mei-ann, both of whom studied under him.

Shui Lan noted that Zinman, though nearly 90 and not conducting on stage in recent years due to health reasons, still possesses a clear and sharp musical mind and mature insights into musical works. "I proposed the idea of holding an online masterclass to the NTSO, hoping that Zinman's lifelong musical wisdom could be shared with young musicians in Taiwan," Shui said.

This masterclass marks Zinman's first time teaching in an online format. From applications submitted by young Taiwanese conductors aged 18 to 35, Zinman personally selected three participants: Liao Shang-ching, currently studying at the Berlin University of the Arts; Liao Wu-chun, a doctoral student in the music department of National Taiwan Normal University; and Tsai Ming-jui, a graduate of the master's program in music at National Taipei University of Education.

NTSO Director-General Ouyang Hui-kang stated that the masterclass presents extremely high technical challenges. It requires not only ensuring high-quality audio and video transmission but also overcoming issues such as audio feedback, signal latency, and audio-visual synchronization. The NTSO will leverage a professional team, high-specification recording equipment, and audio-visual systems, integrating low-latency, high-quality connection technology for testing and adjustments, aiming to create a teaching environment as close to an in-person experience as possible.

According to a press release from the NTSO, the orchestra will open three sessions from June 16 to 18 for free public auditing. Online registration for auditing is now open. For more information, please visit the NTSO official website at https://reurl.cc/xWVq9b. (Editor: Huang Mingxi) 1150610

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  • Source: CNA (Central News Agency)
  • Category: Event