Conducting Fellowships
Launching during the 2027/28 season, the Salonen International Conducting Fellowship is a groundbreaking new initiative designed to nurture and accelerate the careers of the next generation of orchestral conductors, built from a collaboration between the LA Phil and the Orchestre de Paris.
Esa-Pekka Salonen, who simultaneously serves as the LA Phil’s Judith and Thomas L. Beckmen Creative Director and becomes the Orchestre de Paris’ Principal Conductor and the Philharmonie de Paris’ Creativity and Innovation Chair in 2027/28, leads the program.
Fellowship overview
Drawing on the exceptional artistry and creativity of Paris and Los Angeles, the Fellowship provides two to four early-career conductors with exclusive, unparalleled access to artistic mentorship, practical podium experience, and professional development opportunities
Over the course of the one-year program, Fellows will build an international network of peers, artists, and administrators as well as a comprehensive understanding of the skills required to lead modern cultural organizations.
Applications, eligibility requirements, and additional program details are available here.
Highlights
- One-year appointment
- Up to six weeks of immersive residencies with both the LA Phil and Orchestre de Paris
- One-on-one mentorship sessions with Esa-Pekka Salonen
- Conducting opportunities in education and community engagement performances
- Annual Fellowship summit alternating between Los Angeles and Paris
- Professional development workshops with industry leaders
- Housing, travel, and professional support resources
- A culminating public performance and showcase opportunity
Fellowship timeline
- October 5, 2026: Online applications open
- January 30, 2027: Live auditions for select candidates are held in Los Angeles
- Spring 2027: Fellows are announced
The future of our art form depends on cultivating exceptional musical leaders and creating meaningful pathways for emerging talent to thrive. The Salonen International Conducting Fellowship reflects our commitment to mentorship, artistic excellence and international collaboration.
I am delighted by the collaboration between our two institutions, which is all thanks to Esa-Pekka Salonen...This collaboration will also comprise creative exchanges, joint commissions and performances, which we look forward to sharing with our public.
I have met very few conductors who have the ability to explain and teach the mysterious art of conducting as Esa-Pekka Salonen does, and he is truly one of the very best at it. He has a way to mentor and to encourage and to demystify the role of a conductor.
About the Dudamel Fellowship Program
When Gustavo Dudamel became Music & Artistic Director in 2009, he created the Dudamel Fellowship Program to provide promising young conductors from around the world with opportunities to develop their craft and enrich their musical experience.
The Fellows worked alongside Dudamel and musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, as well as with visiting artists and conductors. The Fellows put what they learned throughout the season into practice by conducting Symphonies for Youth and Symphonies for Schools concerts at Walt Disney Concert Hall, participating as cover conductors, and serving as mentors in programs such as Youth Orchestra Los Angeles (YOLA).
The program concluded in 2026 at the end of Dudamel’s tenure as Music & Artistic Director.
Dudamel Fellows: By the Numbers
- 56 rising conductors who participated in the Dudamel Fellowship program
- 27 countries represented by Dudamel Fellows
- 26 Dudamel Fellows who have been appointed music director of a symphony orchestra or opera house
Past Dudamel Fellows |
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|---|---|---|---|
2025/26 | 2024/25 | 2023/24 | 2022/23 |
2021/22 | 2020/21 | 2018/19 | 2017/18 |
2016/17 | 2015/16 | 2014/15 | 2013/14 |
2012/13 | 2011/12 | 2010/11 | 2009/10 |