
Conducting Fellowship
June 24–August 7, 2023
Applications open November 1
Deadline to apply: February 15
For our 2023 season, Chautauqua will require all enrolled students to be fully vaccinated for COVID-19 by the time of arrival unless a medical exemption is secured by March 15. Please email smalinoski@chq.org for more information on medical exemptions.
The David Effron Conducting Fellowship is awarded to a gifted student pursuing a career in conducting. The applicant must be enrolled in or recently graduated (within the last year) from a graduate conducting program. Timothy Muffitt will guide the studies of the conducting fellow and the conducting fellow will lead the Music School Festival Orchestra (MSFO) on a number of works. The conducting fellow also is involved in chamber music as well and is welcome to observe the rehearsals of our resident professional orchestra, the Chautauqua Symphony Orchestra.
In 2023, the concerts are scheduled for July 3, July 10, July 17 (with the Chautauqua Opera Conservatory), July 24 (with the School of Dance) and August 7.
A stipend of $2000 will be awarded after the completion of the first MSFO concert in July. The conducting fellow will also receive a single room in the residence halls and a full meal plan as part of the contract agreement. There is also a $500 travel allowance awarded as well once the fellow has been selected.
Contact Information
Sam Minardi
Schools of Performing & Visual Arts (PAVA) and Arts Education Coordinator
716-357-6234
sminardi@chq.org
Sarah Malinoski-Umberger
Manager, Chautauqua Schools of Performing and Visual Arts
716-357-6233
f: 716-357-9014
smalinoski@chq.org
Chautauqua Festival Schools of Performing and Visual Arts
P.O. Box 1098
1 Ames Ave.
Chautauqua, NY 14722
2022 Conducting Fellow

“Chautauqua is such a peaceful and beautiful place. During my time there, I was filled with love for music. The generous guidance of Maestro Muffitt taught me respectful ways of communicating with the orchestra. The artistic passion and talent of my musical colleagues in the orchestra was so inspiring, and I will never forget our process of making music together. Also, the integration of various genres of arts, such as painting, literature, and dance with the orchestra, was fantastic and enriching. Chautauqua will remain in my heart forever. Thank you!”
—Yeo Ryeong Ahn, 2022 David Effron Conducting Fellow
Timothy Muffitt, Artistic and Music Director
Music Director of the Lansing Symphony Orchestra since 2006, and Music Director Laureate of the Baton Rouge Symphony Orchestra, Timothy Muffitt continues to appear with other prominent orchestras around the country. Recent seasons have included St. Louis Symphony and Tulsa Symphony and return engagements with the San Francisco Symphony and the Long Beach Symphony along with his debut at The Hollywood Bowl. Other engagements have taken Muffitt to the Houston, Phoenix, Edmonton, and Spokane Symphonies, Columbus Ohio’s Pro Musica Chamber Orchestra, the Buffalo Philharmonic, the Virginia Symphony, the Grant Park Music Festival Orchestra in Chicago and the Harrisburg (PA) Symphony among others.
Along with continued growth in artistic excellence, Muffitt’s work has been marked by innovative, imaginative programming. A strong proponent of community arts education, Muffitt has been very active in the venues of radio and lecture, presenting arts-enrichment programs through a variety of formats for diverse audiences.
Prominent performers and composers with whom Mr. Muffitt has worked include Yo Yo Ma, Renee Fleming, Dame Kiri Te Kanawa, Andre Watts, Alicia de Larrocha, Pinchas Zukerman, Van Cliburn, Lynn Harrell, Itzhak Perlman, and composers John Cage, Joseph Schwantner, Ellen Taffe Zwilich, John Harbison, Joan Tower and Bernard Rands among others.

David Effron Conducting Fellowship Alumni Postings
As of Fall 2021
Joshua Hong, 2021
Maria Fuller, 2019: Resident Conductor, Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra
Yue Bao, 2018: Rita E. Hauser Conducting Fellow, Curtis Institute of Music
Rebecca Tong, 2017:Resident Conductor of the Jakarta Simfonia Orchestra.Junior Fellow in Conducting with the Royal Northern College of Music
Louis Lohraseb, 2016: Domingo-Colburn-Stein Young Artist in Conducting at LA Opera
Dean Whiteside, 2015:2019 Conducting Fellow and assistant to Michael Tilson Thomas at the New World Symphony
Earl Lee, 2014: Associate Conductor, Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra, RBC Resident Conductor position of the Toronto Symphony Orchestra, and the Artistic Director & Conductor position of the Toronto Symphony Youth Orchestra
Vlad Vizireanu, 2013:Music Directorship of Knox-Galesburg Symphony, and is a finalist candidate for the Music Directorship of the Savannah Philharmonic
Roderick Cox, 2012:Highlights and debuts in the US during the 19/20 season include with the Richmond Symphony, Phoenix Symphony, Louisville Orchestra, Sphinx Symphony, New Jersey Symphony, San Antonio Symphony and with New York Philharmonic for New York Philharmonic’s Young Peoples Concerts Series. In Europe, Roderick will debut with the Orchestre de Paris, Dresdner Philharmonie, Kristiansand Symfoniorkester, Mannheim Staatsorchester and Iceland Symphony Orchestra) Winner of the 2018 Sir Georg Solti Conducting Award by the U.S Solti Foundation, Roderick Cox was Associate Conductor of the Minnesota Orchestra for the 16/17 and 17/18 seasons.
Stilian Kirov, 2010: Music Director of the Illinois Philharmonic
Andres Moran, 2009: Director of Orchestras and Artist/Teacher of Horn at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point; Interim Music Director of the Central Wisconsin Symphony Orchestra for the 2019-2020 season
Kuokman Lio, 2008: Music Director of the Hong Kong New Music Ensemble
Daniel Boothe, 2007: Music Director & Conductor of the Symphonicity Orchestra & Chorus of Virginia Beach, Virginia
Phillip Blake Richardson, 2006:Director of Orchestras at the University of Alabama
Kazem Abdullah, 2005:Music and Artistic Director of the City of Aachen, Germany from 2012 to 2017
“Chautauqua is a unique place; it is an artist’s utopia. I had a wonderful, delightful and unforgettable summer. What fascinated me is that I had opportunities to not only work with talented musicians but also gifted dancers and artists. Under Maestro Muffitt’s guidance I grew so much during the summer. His artistry, talent and kindness inspired and helped me to become a better musician and human being.”
– Yue Bao, 2018 Conducting Fellow