| Sections | Conductor |
| Deadline | 06 Mar - 29 Aug 2025 |
| Finals | 31 Mar 2026 |
| Where | Manchester, United Kingdom |
| Age groups | Applicants must be 18 or over |
The Siemens Hallé International Conductors Competition seeks to provide a talented and emerging conductor with a platform to develop their skills on an international level.
The Winner of the competition becomes Assistant Conductor of the Hallé, with the opportunity to work alongside the Hallé’s Principal Conductor and Artistic Advisor, Kahchun Wong, for a 3-year period in a meaningful and varied role which represents an invaluable chance for an emerging conductor to build a career and establish themselves on the world stage. It is, quite literally, a life changing opportunity.
The competition celebrates the innovative partnership between the Hallé and Siemens AG, a global technology powerhouse, that has been developed over the last two decades. Creating links between engineering and music, Siemens and the Hallé have not only brought classical music to Manchester audiences, they have collaborated on delivering a variety of education and community outreach projects that engage children and support communities throughout the North of England.
Applications opened on March 6, 2025 and will close on August 29, 2025 at 13:00 GMT.
The applicants will be informed about the chosen semi-finalists in November 2025, while the public announcement will be made in December 2025.
All semi-finalists will work with the Hallé Youth Orchestra on Sunday March 29, 2026, before completing the chamber music workshop on Monday, March 30, 2026 in Hallé St Peter’s.
Finalists will be selected by the end of Monday, March 30. Finalists will be interviewed on Tuesday, March 31 morning before working with the Hallé in the Finals.
All finalists will perform with the Hallé Orchestra in a public concert at The Bridgewater Hall on Tuesday, March 31, following which the Winner of the Competition will be announced.
First Prize: Hallé Assistant Conductor role for 3 years
Second Prize: £2,000
Third Prize: £1,000
Finals repertoire
Each of the finalists will prepare all of the repertoire listed below.
On the day of the finals, they will each conduct Bernstein’s Candide Overture and one of the other symphonic works:
- Rachmaninov: Symphonic Dances
- Sibelius: Symphony no. 5
- Brahms: Symphony no. 3
- Repertoire for the competition will be announced in due course. Please check the website for the latest updates.
- The Panel’s decision is final.
- Applications need to be submitted online by Friday 29th August 2025 13.00 GMT. Late applications will not be considered.
- All applicants must be aged 18 or over.
- The Hallé and Siemens are committed to the principles of Equal Opportunities and welcome applicants from all backgrounds. However, no direct relations of Hallé or Siemens employees are eligible to apply.
- All selected Semi-Finalists will need to be available for the entirety of the Competition in Manchester from Sunday 29th to Tuesday 31st March 2026. Any applicants who are unable to attend the Competition will be seen to have withdrawn their application.
- All applicants agree to participate in media and promotional activities for the Competition.
- The first prize award of the Hallé Assistant Conductor role will be subject to an enhanced successful Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) check for working with children and young people.
The Assistant Conductor role will include a guaranteed number of conducting engagements, with a phased programme of concerts with the Hallé in Manchester and elsewhere over the following 3 years, and with engagements with Orchestras on an international level. They will be an outstanding musician, a confident communicator and a flexible team worker, eager to learn from those around them.
Key tasks of the Assistant Conductor are:
- To shadow the Hallé’s Principal Conductor and visiting conductors, and assist them in matters of balance, off stage conducting, pre-rehearsals, and/or sectionals
- To conduct a minimum of five public concerts with the Hallé each year
- To become Music Director of the Hallé Youth Orchestra
- To direct the Youth Orchestra’s regular weekly term-time rehearsals on Sunday afternoons and public concerts (approximately 4-5 per year)
- To lead the Youth Orchestra’s artistic planning process and auditions
- To study scores associated with the above, reading all scores of new music sent to the Principal Conductor and Head of Artistic Planning and providing advice on their suitability for performance
- To sit in on Hallé rehearsals and performances (including touring) in and outside Manchester, and be ready to stand in if appropriate
- To play a part in the Hallé’s artistic planning team, attending meetings as and when required, and participate in Hallé Connect education and outreach projects where appropriate