The document discusses the important qualifications for a successful conductor from the perspectives of several experts. It identifies musical qualifications like strong musicianship, understanding performance practices of different periods, and the ability to communicate ideas through silent gestures. Personal qualifications mentioned include total commitment to the music, leadership skills, passion for communicating through words and gestures, understanding how people learn, honesty, self-motivation, enthusiasm for the work, and genuine concern for people.

1. Conducting
Qualifications
{ Do you have what it takes?

2. What are the most
important musical and
personal qualifications for a
successful conductor?
The question

3.  What are the
most important
musical and
personal
qualifications
for a successful
conductor?

4. Total commitment to the music
-Richard Cox
Ability to Communicate and Inspire
-Eph Ehly

5. Musicianship, intelligence, passion to communicate through
word/gesture, and an understanding of how people learn.
- Joseph Flummerfelt
Honest love of people, leadership skills, self-motivation -
- John Haberlen)
Enthusiasm for the work, an understanding of the music, genuine
concern for people
- Joseph Huszti)

6.  Good musician, one that knows the craft
 Silent language that communicate ideas
 Understand performance practices of all the
periods
 How to produce good tone, develop sense of
ensemble
Al McNeil

7. “I remember Roger Wagner telling me that
a conductor must know what he wants,
know how to obtain it, and be able to
obtain it. That fact that we are choral
conductors implies that we know what we
want.”
Paul Salamunovich

8.  Wide background in vocal and instrumental
music
 Theory composition, and musicological
training
 Achieved a high level of artistic and technical
maturity instrumentally or vocally
 Piano proficiency
 Know voice as well as voice teacher
 Love and sensitivity of music being performed
Kenneth Jennings

9.  Sense of humor
 Enjoy the practice of learning music (rehearsal)
 An understanding and vision for each vocal
line and how it all fits together
 Perseverance, a commitment to getting it right.
 Insightful programming
 Commitment to improving yourself as a person
and musician
 Understanding of the community of choral
conductors and an attitude of service for the
greater good
Philip Copeland