120+ Minutes of Podium Time + Concert Videos
Limited to 8 Spots
Early Bird Ends Feb 28
June 15-18, 2026 | Vidin, Bulgaria | Led by Eduardo Portal
An intensive 4-day masterclass with a professional symphony orchestra. Prepare, rehearse, and perform in concert. Leave with professional video recordings of your entire experience.
Every conducting session and your final concert performance will be recorded. Raw footage becomes available within a couple of weeks after the masterclass.
Observers are invited to watch all the sessions, both online and in person. Please note that the sessions with orchestra will not be broadcast live. Therefore, observers interested in attending the live sessions with orchestra must be present at the venue in Vidin.
Eduardo Portal isn't just a teacher—he's an active conductor working with major orchestras across Europe while teaching at one of the UK's leading conservatoires, the Royal Northern College of Music.
His conducting debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall in 2011 launched a career that has taken him to the podiums of the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, and many others.
Eduardo has spent decades teaching conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and previously at the University of Leeds. His approach is grounded in the methods he learned working alongside Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir Simon Rattle, and Ivan Fischer.
But his teaching philosophy is straightforward: maximum conducting experience and control on the podium.
The conductors who've worked with Eduardo Portal are building professional careers. Here are just a few examples:
Marco Giudici
Music Director at Salford Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor at Preston Symphony Orchestra. Marco turned his training into leadership positions with two established ensembles in the UK.
Libi Lebel
Artistic Director at Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, Principal Conductor at River City Chamber Orchestra, and Conducting Instructor at the University of Alberta. Lidia now teaches the next generation of conductors while maintaining an active performing career.
Rosica Boyadjieva
Principal Conductor of Wind Orchestra "Vasil Abrashev" Targovishte and Wind Orchestra Dobrich. Rosica built her career in Bulgaria, proving that Eduardo's approach works across different musical contexts and regions.
Tarana Taylor
Rosica Boyadjieva
"A truly unforgettable experience! My heartfelt thanks to our teacher Eduardo Portal, who skillfully guides us to the mysteries of conducting! Besides the experience on stage with an orchestra of young motivated musicians, I will keep the memory of the wonderful creative atmosphere and the new friendships."
Tarana Taylor
Your Development Doesn't End in June
That's why every participant who is not yet a Passion for Conducting Academy member receives one month of free online Premium Membership at the Passion for Conducting Academy (£91 value), automatically starting June 1st, 2026.
What Premium Membership Includes
-Weekly live training sessions including video analysis, Q&A sessions, and targeted skills training. You'll continue receiving feedback on your conducting even after the masterclass ends.
-Personal 1-on-1 tuition starting with an initial interview, a FREE Zoom lesson, and a customized learning path based on your specific goals and development needs.
Ongoing Benefit
After your free month, you'll have the option to continue your membership at £82/month —a permanent £9/month discount from the regular £91/month rate, for as long as you remain a member.
Investment & Early Bird Savings
Standard Price: €1,650
Early Bird Price (until February 28, 2026): €1,450
You save €200 by applying before the early bird deadline.
What's Included in Your Investment
-Four weekly online preparatory sessions in May with Eduardo Portal
-Daily video analysis sessions throughout the masterclass
Payment Terms
-€50 non-refundable application fee (due with application)
-50% of full price due within 5 days of acceptance
-Remaining 50% due by 10 May 2026
-Refund Policy: No refunds under any circumstances, except if Passion for Conducting cancels the masterclass (in which case a full refund is provided).
-Standard pricing: €1,650
-May 4, 2026: Final application decisions announced
-May (four weekly sessions): Online preparatory sessions
-June 18, 2026 (evening): Final public concert
Only 8 Spots Available
The application process is straightforward. We review applications based solely on your CV and conducting video—no interviews required.
1. Current CV
Include your conducting experience, training, education, and any relevant musical background.
2. Conducting Video (5-10 minutes)
Submit a video showing two contrasting pieces. This helps us understand your current technical level and musical approach. The video doesn't need to be professionally produced—clear footage of you conducting is what matters.
3. Application Fee (€50)
A non-refundable €50 application fee is required with your submission.
All applications are reviewed by May 4th, 2026 —one final decision date for all applicants. You'll receive notification of acceptance or rejection on that date.
Decisions are based solely on your CV and video. There are no interviews or additional steps in the process.
This masterclass is open to advanced conducting students and professional conductors . We strongly recommend that applicants have prior experience conducting orchestras, though formal conducting training or education is not required.
Submit a current CV, a 5-10 minute conducting video showing two contrasting pieces, and a €50 non-refundable application fee. All applications are reviewed by May 4th, 2026, and decisions are based solely on your CV and video—no interviews required.
This masterclass is open to advanced conducting students and professional conductors. We strongly recommend that applicants have prior experience conducting orchestras. Formal conducting training or education is not required—what matters is your foundation and commitment to developing your craft.
Logistics
No. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to Vidin and accommodation during the masterclass. We can provide recommendations for local accommodation options upon acceptance.
How is podium time distributed among participants?
Each participant receives 60+ minutes of individual conducting time with the professional orchestra, spread across the four days, plus 60+ minutes during the online preparatory sessions in May. Specific scheduling details will be provided closer to the masterclass dates.
Premium Membership
How does the Premium Membership work?
If you are not yet a member of Passion for Conducting, you will get a free month of Premium Membership (£91 value) starting automatically on June 1st, 2026. After the free month, you can continue at the discounted rate of £82/month (regular price £91/month), saving £9/month for as long as you remain a member. There's no obligation to continue after the free month.
Payment & Refunds
What are the payment terms?
Pay a €50 non-refundable application fee with your submission. Upon acceptance, 50% of the full price is due within 5 days, and the remaining 50% is due by the 10th May 2026.
What is the refund policy?
No refunds are provided under any circumstances, except if Passion for Conducting cancels the masterclass (in which case a full refund is provided).
Video Recordings
When will I receive my video recordings?
- Limited spots, and the early bird deadline is February 28th.
120+ Minutes of Podium Time + Concert Videos
Limited to 8 Spots
Early Bird Ends Feb 28
June 15-18, 2026 | Vidin, Bulgaria | Led by Eduardo Portal
An intensive 4-day masterclass with a professional symphony orchestra. Prepare, rehearse, and perform in concert. Leave with professional video recordings of your entire experience.
Every conducting session and your final concert performance will be recorded. Raw footage becomes available within a couple of weeks after the masterclass.
Observers are invited to watch all the sessions, both online and in person. Please note that the sessions with orchestra will not be broadcast live. Therefore, observers interested in attending the live sessions with orchestra must be present at the venue in Vidin.
Eduardo Portal isn't just a teacher—he's an active conductor working with major orchestras across Europe while teaching at one of the UK's leading conservatoires, the Royal Northern College of Music.
His conducting debut with the London Philharmonic Orchestra at Royal Festival Hall in 2011 launched a career that has taken him to the podiums of the Royal Philharmonic, Philharmonia Orchestra, BBC National Orchestra of Wales, Munich Symphony Orchestra, Barcelona Symphony Orchestra, and many others.
Eduardo has spent decades teaching conducting at the Royal Northern College of Music and previously at the University of Leeds. His approach is grounded in the methods he learned working alongside Sir Colin Davis, Bernard Haitink, Vladimir Jurowski, Sir Simon Rattle, and Ivan Fischer.
But his teaching philosophy is straightforward: maximum conducting experience and control on the podium.
The conductors who've worked with Eduardo Portal are building professional careers. Here are just a few examples:
Marco Giudici
Music Director at Salford Symphony Orchestra and Principal Conductor at Preston Symphony Orchestra. Marco turned his training into leadership positions with two established ensembles in the UK.
Libi Lebel
Artistic Director at Chamber Orchestra of Edmonton, Principal Conductor at River City Chamber Orchestra, and Conducting Instructor at the University of Alberta. Lidia now teaches the next generation of conductors while maintaining an active performing career.
Rosica Boyadjieva
Principal Conductor of Wind Orchestra "Vasil Abrashev" Targovishte and Wind Orchestra Dobrich. Rosica built her career in Bulgaria, proving that Eduardo's approach works across different musical contexts and regions.
Tarana Taylor
Rosica Boyadjieva
"A truly unforgettable experience! My heartfelt thanks to our teacher Eduardo Portal, who skillfully guides us to the mysteries of conducting! Besides the experience on stage with an orchestra of young motivated musicians, I will keep the memory of the wonderful creative atmosphere and the new friendships."
Tarana Taylor
The application process is straightforward. We review applications based solely on your CV and conducting video—no interviews required.
1. Current CV
Include your conducting experience, training, education, and any relevant musical background.
2. Conducting Video (5-10 minutes)
Submit a video showing two contrasting pieces. This helps us understand your current technical level and musical approach. The video doesn't need to be professionally produced—clear footage of you conducting is what matters.
3. Application Fee (€50)
A non-refundable €50 application fee is required with your submission.
All applications are reviewed by May 4th, 2026 —one final decision date for all applicants. You'll receive notification of acceptance or rejection on that date.
Decisions are based solely on your CV and video. There are no interviews or additional steps in the process.
This masterclass is open to advanced conducting students and professional conductors . We strongly recommend that applicants have prior experience conducting orchestras, though formal conducting training or education is not required.
Submit a current CV, a 5-10 minute conducting video showing two contrasting pieces, and a €50 non-refundable application fee. All applications are reviewed by May 4th, 2026, and decisions are based solely on your CV and video—no interviews required.
This masterclass is open to advanced conducting students and professional conductors. We strongly recommend that applicants have prior experience conducting orchestras. Formal conducting training or education is not required—what matters is your foundation and commitment to developing your craft.
Logistics
No. Participants are responsible for arranging their own travel to Vidin and accommodation during the masterclass. We can provide recommendations for local accommodation options upon acceptance.
How is podium time distributed among participants?
Each participant receives 60+ minutes of individual conducting time with the professional orchestra, spread across the four days, plus 60+ minutes during the online preparatory sessions in May. Specific scheduling details will be provided closer to the masterclass dates.
Premium Membership
How does the Premium Membership work?
If you are not yet a member of Passion for Conducting, you will get a free month of Premium Membership (£91 value) starting automatically on June 1st, 2026. After the free month, you can continue at the discounted rate of £82/month (regular price £91/month), saving £9/month for as long as you remain a member. There's no obligation to continue after the free month.
Payment & Refunds
What are the payment terms?
Pay a €50 non-refundable application fee with your submission. Upon acceptance, 50% of the full price is due within 5 days, and the remaining 50% is due by the end of April 2026.
What is the refund policy?
No refunds are provided under any circumstances, except if Passion for Conducting cancels the masterclass (in which case a full refund is provided).
Video Recordings
When will I receive my video recordings?
- Limited spots, and the early bird deadline is February 28th.