SKY ARTS GOES BEHIND THE CURTAIN OF THE WORLD’S MOST PRESTIGIOUS CONDUCTING COMPETITION WITH MAKING A MAESTRO

Julia Kurzydlak, 24, conducts the London Symphony Orchestra in the First Round of the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition (c) Mark Allan 

The three-part documentary will air on Sky Arts and streaming service NOW from 22 April

This April, for the first time on British television, Sky Arts will give viewers a glimpse into the most prestigious conducting competition in the world with Making a Maestro. The 3×60 series follows 20 of Europe’s finest young conductors as they compete for a life changing prize: to become the assistant conductor of the world-famous London Symphony Orchestra.

Making a Maestro follows the competitors of the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition as they each battle it out, baton to baton, to impress the esteemed judging panel in just fifteen minutes. From 20, the judges select 10 to progress to the next round. In round 2, the remaining 10 have another 30 minutes to impress, before 10 become 3.

After much deliberation, the judges decide on a final three who battle it out for the prize and the competition only intensifies when a very special guest, King Charles III, who has supported the Competition since it started 35 years ago, pays them a visit. Ending on a high, the series concludes with a very special concert performed by the orchestra and conducted by the winner of the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition.

The judges consist of Sir Antonio Pappano (chair of the jury and Chief Conductor of the London Symphony Orchestra), composer and conductor Sir James MacMillan, conductors Sian Edwards and Thomas Søndergård, LSO musicians Sarah Quinn (Sub-Principal Second Violin and LSO Chair) and Rachel Gough (Principal Bassoon).

About the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition

Now in its 35th year, the Donatella Flick LSO Conducting Competition is internationally recognised as one of the world’s leading conducting competitions. Every two years, the Competition sees 20 talented young conductors compete for the £15,000 prize and the opportunity to become the London Symphony Orchestra’s Assistant Conductor.

Making A Maestro is produced by Love Monday TV. Kerene Barefield serves as Executive Producer and Naveed Chowdhary-Flatt serves as Executive Producer and Series Producer. Making A Maestro was commissioned by Phil Edgar Jones, Executive Director of Unscripted Originals at Sky, for Cecile Frot Coutaz, CEO of Sky Studios & Chief Content Officer for Sky. The Commissioning Editor for Sky is Benedetta Pinelli.

Making a Maestro will air weekly on Sky Arts, Freeview Channel 36 and streaming service NOW from 22 April.