There are many places to study conducting. But there are very few places where you can stand in front of a world-class chamber choir, receive candid feedback from the singers themselves, and explore not just your technique but the inner life of what it means to lead music.
Our Professional Conductors’ Workshop is built on the belief that the most meaningful development happens not in isolation, but in genuine musical relationship, with trust at its heart.
Here is what we think sets Epiphoni workshops apart:
01
For working conductors
We pitch the workshop at conductors already working professionally, or close to completing their training. There is no required ‘standard’ as such – we meet you where you are
02
The choir teaches as much as it sings
At our workshops the singers aren’t going through the motions – they are accomplished, curious, and engaged – and their feedback is among the most valuable things the workshop offers.
03
The whole conductor, not just the hands
We go beyond gesture and score preparation. The psychological dimension of conducting – confidence, presence, connection – is equally important.
04
Trust built over two days
By giving the workshop time to breathe, we create the conditions for connections to be made and trust to build. It makes honest, generous exchange possible.
Feedback from the singers themselves
In many workshops, the choir is simply there to be conducted. Here, they are active participants. Epiphoni’s singers bring not only their musicianship but their honesty and warmth — and conductors consistently tell us that hearing directly from the ensemble is one of the most revelatory parts of the experience.
Receiving feedback from the choir was perhaps even more instructive. It reminded me that conducting is first and foremost for the performers’ benefit; that you are there to support and galvanise their efforts and potential.
Workshop participant
The inner game of conducting
Technique matters enormously. But so does what is happening internally – the relationship between intention and gesture, the management of nerves, the ability to stay present and lead with clarity even in unfamiliar territory. We believe these things deserve as much attention as baton technique or score study, and so they are built into the fabric of the workshop from the start.
Our Artistic Director and guest conductors bring both rigorous musicianship and a genuine interest in the human side of leadership. The conversations that arise are often as useful as the time on the podium.
A social environment that makes honesty possible
Candid feedback requires trust, and trust takes time to build. That is why we give the workshop two full days. Breaks, pub and informal time together are not incidental – they are part of how conductors and singers come to know one another well enough that the exchange between them can be genuinely open and helpful.
We want conductors to feel they can try things, take risks, and ask questions without reservation. That is not something that happens by accident – it is something we work carefully to create.
You have cultivated the most pastoral environment imaginable. You really must have the friendliest choir on the planet… what makes Epiphoni so special is how welcoming, supportive, inclusive, and kind everyone is
Conducting participant
Something that stays with you
We were moved and struck by the messages we receive in the days following our inaugural workshop in November 2025. Participants describe experiences that linger – not just technically useful, but go deeper with lasting meaning. That is the standard we hold ourselves to, and it shapes every decision we make about how the weekend is run.
One week on from the course, I’m still smiling just thinking about it. I can’t recall a more engrossing recent experience, and so I wanted to thank you both again for making it happen
November masterclass participant
Ready to join us?
At the time of writing our next two-day workshop is on 13-15 Nov in Central London, featuring Howells’ Requiem and Take Him Earth for Cherishing.
