Scott Wilson is Director of the Carlos Miguel Prieto Conducting Fellowship, Head of Orchestral Studies for the OAcademy Conservatory, and a conducting teacher within the Youth and Adult Learning Department at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He has taught at the Royal College of Music, Trinity College of Music Junior Department, and the Aldeburgh Young Musicians Programme, and he has led workshops for the Southbank Centre, Barbican Centre, and Glyndebourne Festival Opera. He maintains an online studio, teaching students from across the world, and he also works as an Associate Conductor of the National Youth Orchestra of Great Britain.
It is Scott Wilson’s belief that a thriving classical music industry can only be achieved once there is a gender balance amongst conductors. He has a long history of achieving an even balance of male and female students who approach him for lessons and who participate in his conducting courses.
Scott Wilson’s former students have held Assistant Conductor positions in Europe, North and South America, and Australasia, and they work as guest conductors throughout the world.
CONDUCTING MANUAL
Scott Wilson’s work as a teacher of conducting is underpinned by this manual on conducting technique, which he has written over the past decade. Its principal focus is a thorough analysis of the physical movements which contribute to successful conducting. In addition, it also discusses subjects including the psychological and historical aspects of conducting, communication, rehearsal technique, and score preparation.
MUSICIANSHIP
Beginning with the First Viennese School and journeying approximately chronologically through to today, this 60-lesson course explores conducting within the context of music and social history. Changes in performance style - and especially the impact this has on the conductor - are discovered by examining key works for orchestra (including highlights of ballet and opera).
PIERROT LUNAIRE
This 30-lesson course explores the chamber ensemble repertoire of the 20th century, its impact for the conductor, and its historical context. Schoenberg’s Pierrot Lunaire (as well as Stravinsky’s The Soldier’s Tale) forms the core repertoire that is explored through the entirety of the course. Crucial works from each decade of the 20th Century are studied in three-lesson segments.
ORCHESTRAL REPERTOIRE
Devised during the pandemic, this series of lectures is designed for orchestral musicians. Each class places the music in its historical and stylistic context. The course covers masterworks from the standard repertoire, as well as important music that is less frequently performed.
INTERVIEW
In 2020 Scott Wilson was interviewed by Hannah Baxter of the Notes from the Podium journal on the subject of Teaching Conducting. Notes from the Podium is a quarterly online journal that undertakes in-depth interviews with conductors from all over the world.
A passionate advocate of youth and community music-making, Scott Wilson’s apprenticeship included directing performances of community and university orchestras throughout the United Kingdom. He worked most frequently with Abbots Langley Orchestra, Hounslow Symphony Orchestra, Imperial College String Orchestra, and Kingston Philharmonia, with each of whom he was Music Director.
Scott Wilson was a Fellow at the Global Leaders Institute and a Fellow in Conducting at the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He holds a Masters in Musicology from Royal Holloway, University of London, and a Bachelor of Music with Honours from the Guildhall School of Music and Drama. He was a Britten-Pears Young Artist, and a member of the London Symphony Orchestra Academy and the Cheltenham Festival Academy.
“Thank you for gifting us with the uniquely invaluable experiences and opportunities through this remarkable program. Words cannot fully express how transformative and nurturing each session was. It truly shone perspectives beyond my imagined boundaries on what it means to lead a life as a conductor and artist.”
“An exceptional educator; respectful, very committed, thoughtful, kind and honest.”
“Both Scott Wilson and Carlos Miguel Prieto are very generous mentors who truly care about all the fellows. Their advice has been (and I am sure will remain) invaluable.”
“Scott was an extraordinary tutor in my view, in fact I’m not sure I’ve ever experienced such fine teaching. It felt a privilege to be taught by him... I’m not alone among the course participants to share the thought that the course marked a significant moment in our lives so far, and will I’m sure have a major impact on the way our musical lives develop in the future.”
“Scott’s exceptional leadership and openness were truly inspiring, making each participant feel included, heard, and valued.”
“Scott Wilson is an incredible pedagogue. He masterfully adapts his plan and style on the fly to suit the needs of the class and is always personable and clear. You really feel he cares deeply about each and every one of his students.”
