OCTOBER 4-9 2025

IN SØNDERBORG, DENMARK WITH SØNDERJYLLANDS SYMFONIORKESTER / DANISH PHILHARMONIC ORCHESTRA

ABOUT THE MASTERCLASS

Nordic Masterclass for Conductors is an initiative aiming to create opportunities for young conductors to develop through “practising their instrument”, under top level guidance by professor Jorma Panula and  assistant teacher Maria Badstue.

After celebrating Nordic Masterclass 10th year anniversary in 2023 after 10 amazing years with the South Denmark Philharmonic, Nordic Masterclass 2024 takes place for the first time with Odense Symphony Orchestra, Denmark.

The focus and aim of Nordic Masterclass is to emphasize the importance of top level teaching and guidance combined with the important podium time with a professional orchestra. Or in the words of prof. Jorma Panula:
“You cannot learn to conduct without an orchestra”.

Nordic Masterclass for Conductors was founded in 2012 on the initiative of Maria Badstue in cooperation with Jorma Panula and the South Denmark Philharmonic.

VENUE
Nordic Masterclass 2025 takes place in ALSION Concert Hall, ALSION 2, 6400 Sønderborg, Denmark.

THE TEAM

JORMA PANULA

Professor

Jorma Panula(b. 1930) was artistic director of the Turku Philharmonic Orchestra 1965 – 1967, Helsinki Philharmonic Orchestra 1967 – 1972 and Aarhus Symphony Orchestra 1970 – 1972.

He has been a frequent guest at the Finnish National Opera. Panula was professor of conducting at the Sibelius Academy 1973 – 1994 and also taught at the Royal Academy in Stockholm and the Royal Academy in Copenhagen.

MARIA BADSTUE

Artistic Director and
assistant teacher

Innovation, passion, and versatility are the hallmarks of India born Danish conductor Maria Badstue, praised as “one of the best young Danish conductors of today,” (Berlingske Media).

An accessible collaborator and innate communicator, Ms. Badstue’s popularity as a guest conductor outside of the Nordic countries continues to grow.

Eva Rasmussen

Application Coordinator

Eva is originally violinist from Danish National Academy of Music, working in symphony orchestras around Denmark.

After five years as a musician she transitted from front stage to back stage, and has for the past 10 years operated as producer and project manager at Odense Symphony Orchestra, combined with projects for BBC Studios Nordic Productions, Danish Broadcasting Company (DR) and others.

Magnus Plejdrup

Project Manager

Magnus Plejdrup (b. 1995) is a Danish composer and conductor based in Aarhus.

He is the founder and artistic director of the Aarhus Chamber Orchestra, part of the artistic planning team behind Aarhus Chamber Music Festival and project coordinator at the Danish Sinfonietta. He studied at the conservatories in Aarhus and Glasgow and has been awarded talent prizes from the Leonié Sonnings Music- and Carl Nielsen and Anne Marie- Carl Nielsen foundations.

ON STAGE

Odense Symphony Orchestra (2024)

Odense Symphony Orchestra is one of Denmark’s five regional orchestras.

The orchestra was founded in 1946, but its roots go as far back as around 1800. From being a theatre orchestra that also played symphonic music, the orchestra today appears as a modern symphony orchestra with a high level of activity and in a constant state of development.

The orchestra’s repertoire has a wide range and covers everything from film concerts, chamber music, family concerts to the great symphonic works and opera, such as Richard Wagner’s Der Ring des Nibelungen. Odense Symphony Orchestra had 22 musicians at its founding, but has grown to 65 permanent musicians, from Denmark and all over the world. The orchestra performs around 100 concerts a year. The majority of the concerts take place in the Carl Nielsen-hall in Odense’s Concert house, near H.C. Andersen’s Birthplace – but the orchestra tours throughout Denmark and the rest of the world.

See our concert calendar here (in danish): odensesymfoni.dk/koncerter

Visit the webpage of Odense Symphony Orchestra

SØNDERJYLLANDS SYMFONIORKESTER (2025)

Sønderjyllands Symfoniorkester (SSO) / South Denmark Philharmonic is a symphony orchestra with 65 members based in Sønderborg, Denmark.

It serves as the state orchestra for Denmark’s South Jutland region and Southern Schleswig in Germany. The orchestra plays around 155 concerts per year – classical symphonic music, chamber music, school concerts, and opera.

South Denmark Philharmonic was home to Nordic Masterclass for Conductors 2012-2023