COURSES AT GC PARTNER INSTITUTIONS
Winter semester 2025
Registration via email to globalconservatoire@mdw.ac.at is possible until September 10th 2025.
Tradition with a twist - A Portrait of carl nielen's instrumental music
Institution: The Royal Danish Academy of Music
Study level: Bachelor
Course tutor: Søren Schauser
Course content: Join the Nielsen Experience online and perhaps visit Copenhagen? Explore the musical legacy of Carl Nielsen. Selected candidates will be invited to Copenhagen to connect with fellow GC students and be part of a celebration of Nielsen’s music in 2026! This course is aimed towards woodwinds (and horn), strings, piano, and organ students.
One of the most fascinating figures in early 20th century European music culture, his choice to reject both musical tradition and modernism left him with an extremely interesting reputation – equally hated by both camps.
Through the course, we explore Carl Nielsen’s life from unassuming military musician to director of the Copenhagen music academy and examine his position amongst contemporaries such as his life-long antagonist Rued Langgaard.
How did Carl Nielsen navigate between tradition and modernism? We will examine that question through a selection of representative instrumental works, such as the world-famous Wind Quintet and Flute Concerto, chamber music, piano pieces, and one of his most well-known organ works – Commotio.
Following the course, you will also receive 1-2 online masterclasses in spring 2026 with individual coaching on interpretation of a work by Carl Nielsen, which you will choose with guidance from RDAM Nielsen experts, such as:
- Max Artved, Professor of Woodwinds
- Tim Frederiksen, Professor of Strings and Chamber Music
- Kristian Krogsøe, Professor of Organ
- The Danish String Quartet, RDAM Quartet-in-Residence
- Emil Gryesten, Assistant Prof. Of Piano
- Rikke Sandberg, teacher specialising in Carl Nielsen works
Based on a holistic assessment of participants’ performance, course engagement and commitment, a jury will invite at least one ensemble or musician from each GC partner institution to Copenhagen in 2026.
Dates of the Live Sessions (Zoom):
- October 28, 2025
- November 4, 2025
- November 25, 2025
MUSIC, SOUND, and environment
Institution: The Royal College of Music, London
Study level: Master (but open to advanced Bachelor students)
Course tutor: Nicholas Moroz
Course content: Aimed at both performers and composers, this course explores themes of Sound and Environment in music through recent scholarship and a diverse array of musical practices, from the twentieth century through to contemporary cultures, including examples from popular music, sound art, modernism, and experimental music. Students will encounter a range of perspectives that will enable them to critically and creatively engage with and reflect on topics including the aesthetics, techniques, and reception of site-specific artworks, modern spatial audio production practices, ecological thinking, soundscape, and field-recordings. Practical and creative tasks will also develop students’ listening skills while exploring their own experience of sound in different environments.
Dates of the Live Sessions (Zoom): tbc
the underrepresented in opera
Institution: Manhattan School of Music
Study level: Bachelor, Master
Course tutor: James Massol
Course content: This class covers the history of opera from the earliest works around 1600 to the present, considering works written or performed by underrepresented creators. The content for this course includes either works by underrepresented composers and/or librettists or stories about BIPOC, LGBTQ, and woman characters, which would typically be performed by such performers. The chosen repertoire blends canonical works with lesser-known repertoire.
Topics include biography of the creators, experiences in the creative process, choice of stories, context of stories, treatment of characters in the stories, casting of the roles, reception history, etc. In some cases, we will take a critical view of representation and in other cases not. Readings will include underrepresented authors, and all performances will include a high percentage of underrepresented artists. The course is completely asynchronous, divided into short lectures, readings, and watching/listening assignments. Students will complete the course assignments weekly, with each unit beginning and ending on Mondays.
Dates of the Live Sessions (Zoom): tbc
creative productivity
Institution: Conservatorium van Amsterdam
Study level: Master
Course tutor: Nicholas Moroz
Course content: This course is designed to help creatives navigate the journey from idea to completion by equipping them with insights, tools and strategies to manage their personal projects effectively. Through a mix of practical exercises, self-reflection, and interactive workshops, participants will discover how to integrate meaningful projects into their everyday lives, work through challenges, and establish sustainable routines.
Dates of the Live Sessions (Zoom): tbc
REGISTRATION FOR mdw STUDENTS
Please register via email to globalconservatoire@mdw.ac.at until tbc (name, matriculation number, study field, study cycle, contact details)
The capacity of the courses is limited, the principle "first come, first served" applies!