Hello! My name is Cameron Nielson. I am a first-year graduate orchestral conducting student at Western Washington University, having graduated from Western with an undergraduate degree in composition in the Winter. I entered college wanting to compose and teach high school, but I quickly learned that my desire was to conduct an orchestra, centering that desire to teach on the podium. Throughout the last couple of years I have been privileged to be invited to conduct the Whatcom Wind Ensemble, Western’s Symphony Orchestra, and student-composed chamber orchestra pieces for various senior recitals. When I step on the podium, I feel alive in a way that I do not as a performer. The opportunity to combine leadership, education, musicianship, connection, and expression is unique and extremely important to me. 

MASTERCLASS GOALS

As I enter the bulk of the work for my graduate degree, I am seeking every opportunity to conduct and absorb more learning. Under Maestra Ioannides, I hope to work to be a stronger conductor technically but especially pedagogically. There is no substitute for hands-on learning! It is also very important to me that I connect with my peers attending the masterclass. At Western I have met and been friends with a couple other student conductors, but at the masterclass I will have the invaluable opportunity to get to know others that are also deeply invested in advancing their orchestral conducting, potentially looking down the same career paths that I am. These could be connections I make for life!

The cost of tuition for this masterclass is $2650 before travel and food expenses. This is a heavy burden for me in terms of budget, but the opportunity to attend is priceless. I work two on-campus jobs and an off-campus job in order to pay for school and rent, but paying for this masterclass in it’s entirety would significantly stress me financially. I have applied for a grant through my university, and I am looking to raise $1500 to cover what would remain of the tuition as well as travel and food expenses. 

The Cascade Conducting Masterclass is an invaluable learning opportunity. Through the course of the program I will become a stronger conductor, form a network of conductors that offer a variety of experiences and approaches, and learn from the amazing Maestra Ioannides. I will take all of what I learn back and apply it to my conducting degree in the fall with ensembles at Western and beyond. 

Thank you for your consideration!