OCA CONDUCTING ACADEMY
An International Training Programme for Conductors
Artistic Director & Lead Tutor - Luis Miguel Clemente
From Interpretation to Sound
Developed under the artistic direction of Luis Miguel Clemente, the OCA Conducting Academy is an international, season-based training programme based in Porto (Portugal), dedicated to the artistic, technical and professional development of conductors.
The Academy offers a structured and professional working environment grounded in extended podium time, small groups (maximum 6 active conductors per masterclass) and individual coaching (1–1). This format allows time for repetition, correction, observation and continuous feedback — essential conditions for meaningful and lasting artistic growth.
The OCA Conducting Academy supports conductors through a continuous training path focused on one of the central demands of the profession: the ability to transform musical intention into sound through gesture and rehearsal. The work follows a clear and transferable cycle:
Interpretation: decisions grounded in score study, structure, orchestration and style.
Gesture: clear, economical and purposeful physical communication, capable of shaping sound and conduct with efficiency.
Sound: active listening, timing and responsibility for the orchestral response.
Rehearsal: turning intention into action, priorities, communication and efficient problem-solving
Participants work on concrete conducting challenges at the podium, consistently linking what they hear to what they do in their technical, artistic and practical work.
Training at the Podium
The development of the conductor’s physical instrument — and its practical application — stands at the centre of the learning process. Participants work under real constraints of time, communication and interaction with musicians, learning to act decisively, listen critically and adjust efficiently. This environment allows space for experimentation and consolidation, supporting clarity of intention, economy of gesture and effective collaboration with an orchestra. The programme integrates:
focused work on conducting technique and gesture
extensive podium time, enabling repetition, correction and consolidation through individual feedback
individual coaching (1–1) alongside small-group work, encouraging observation and peer learning
score study shaping informed interpretative decisions
rehearsal technique and communication: linking intention, gesture and sound
practical sessions with two pianos and the Orquestra da Costa Atlântica
The masterclasses are held at ESMAE (Superior School of Music and Performing Arts, PORTO), a leading Portuguese and internacional reference for higher education in music and arts, offering professional facilities for advanced orchestral training.
What You Will Leave With
Each masterclass is designed to leave participants with a more integrated, reliable and conscious approach to orchestral conducting, grounded in sustained podium work and guided reflection. Participants develop:
a more reliable and consistent conducting technique, with clearer awareness of how gesture produces sound and influences orchestral response
a more precise interpretative approach, rooted in score study and informed musical decision-making
clearer rehearsal priorities and pacing, enabling efficient work on musical and technical issues
more precise cueing, preparation, releases and continuity over long spans
increased confidence at the podium, developed through extended practical work and close feedback
a structured and transferable personal working method, applicable across repertoire, ensembles and professional contexts
a clearer sense of artistic direction and individual voice, supporting conscious interpretative choices and musical leadership
Who Is This Programme For?
The OCA Conducting Academy welcomes conductors at different stages of their artistic development who wish to deepen and refine their practice through focused study, podium work and close pedagogical guidance. The masterclasses are particularly suited for:
Conducting students and aspiring conductors, including musicians transitioning from instrumental performance or composers wishing to conduct their own works, seeking to build solid technical foundations and gain structured podium experience.
Early-career conductors in active professional development, looking to refine technique, deepen interpretation, expand repertoire and consolidate rehearsal practice.
Conductors preparing for competitions or professional engagements, requiring focused work on clarity, efficiency and overall professional readiness.
A short video offering a glimpse into the Academy’s working atmosphere and artistic focus.
Season 2026 / Masterclasses Overview
A Message from the Artistic Director
As Artistic Director of the OCA Conducting Academy, I am pleased to continue developing this season-based programme of masterclasses, created to support conductors in the gradual and consistent growth of their artistic and professional practice.
Throughout my work as a conductor and pedagogue, I have been particularly interested in the moment where musical intention takes form at the podium — where interpretation becomes gesture, and gesture becomes sound. The OCA Conducting Academy was conceived as a space where this transition can be explored in depth, through sustained work, close guidance and attentive listening.
Working with conductors at different stages of development, and accompanying them as they refine technique, clarify musical ideas and gain confidence in rehearsal, remains one of the most rewarding aspects of my profession. The Academy is built on care, precision and reflection, encouraging each participant to develop a clear working method and a responsible artistic voice.
I look forward to welcoming you to the OCA Conducting Academy.
— Luis Miguel Clemente
Artistic Director & Lead Tutor
Ready to take the next step?
Explore the 2026 masterclasses and choose the focus that best aligns with your current artistic goals.