Developing the Next Generation of Leaders in Classical Music
LEAD! Foundation’s mission is to support the emerging careers of the next generation of young conductors and aspiring orchestra principals. We take a holistic view, concentrating not only on the technical and musical aspects of the profession, but also on providing active mentoring and frank advice on the classical music industry. We are convinced that well-prepared and informed artists will be able to manage their careers with greater success, and navigate today’s competitive music world with more confidence, both on-stage and off.
The foundation is directed by leading Finnish conductor Jukka-Pekka Saraste and provides teaching through the LEAD! Foundation Academy. Based in Finland and active internationally, we are also the founders of the Fiskars Summer Festival, the main platform for our annual conductors’ masterclass, which features renowned guest conductors invited from both Finland and abroad. We also run a mentorship programme for emerging conductors, orchestra leaders, and since 2023, for composers. Through the festival, we arrange career workshops, seminars and discussions on musical leadership and other industry-related topics, as well as chamber- and orchestral concerts. A sister event on a smaller scale, the Fiskars Easter Sessions, is arranged biannually.
COMING UP
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Recent Highlight: FISKARS EASTER SESSIONS
27 - 29 March 2024
The 2nd edition of the Fiskars Easter Sessions is just around the corner. We open with a very special concert in the Fiskars Manor House on 27th March 2024, which will be opening its doors to our festival for the very first time. We also return to the beautiful Karjalohja Church on Thursday 28th March, in a programme rich in atmosphere including Wagner’s Wesendonck Lieder, before our closing concert on the 29th in Lukaali, Fiskars, featuring music by Bartok, Haydn and Enescu.
We look forward to performing here with soprano Sonja Herranen, LEAD! Soloists, Jukka-Pekka Saraste, and young conductors Mateusz Gwizdalla and Aleksandra Melaniuk.
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SYMPHONY OF A THOUSAND: MAHLER’S 8TH
28 - 29 May 2024
LEAD’s partnership with the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra is an opportunity to frame its mentorship programme within one of the great Romantic symphonies of our time - Mahler’s symphony no. 8. The project is aimed at young musicians in the early phases of their career, and focuses specifically on developing orchestral leadership, entrepreneurship, and preparedness for the professional music industry.
Young participants will have the opportunity to put these ideas into practice and perform in three public concerts at the Helsinki Music Centre alongside the Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra, the Swedish Radio Choir, the Latvian Radio Choir, the Helsinki Chamber Choir, the Helsinki Music Centre Choir, Cantores Minores and a stellar cast of eight soloists.
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FISKARS SUMMER FESTIVAL
25 July - 3 August 2024
Fiskars Summer Festival celebrates its 5th anniversary this year!
We will be running our LEAD! Foundation Academy masterclass and mentoring for young conductors, led by Jukka-Pekka Saraste and Eva Ollikainen, as well as our mentorship programmes for talented young instrumentalists, led by our mentors Sophie Heinrich, Tero Latvala, Alexander Gordon, Tuomas Lehto and Niamh McKenna. We will be offering mentorship also to young composers, in a programme led by Magnus Lindberg.
Concerts take place in various venues around Fiskars, and the final concert will be held in Billnäs Iso-Paja on 3 August 2024, with special guest, Boris Giltburg.