The Performing Arts Laboratory (PAL) announced its new project, The 360° Maestro™.

The international conducting competition and fellowship is designed to train the next generation of conductors not just to lead orchestras, but to lead entire Performing Arts organizations and their ecosystems. The program was developed to ensure young artists are equipped to seize opportunities in leadership and management.

In a press release, Diego Barbosa-Vásquez, General Director of PAL said, “Excellence on the podium is no longer enough. We are transforming emerging conductors into visionary leaders capable of inspiring musicians, engaging communities, and steering entire organizations toward real sustainable success.”

The 360° Maestro aim to reach beyond traditional workshops by combining artistic elements such as score study, rehearsals, and  hands-on guidance from renowned conductors, with seminars in arts management, finance, fundraising, and strategic programming. The program culminates in a live, public competition judged by a multi-stakeholder panel including Maestro Arthur Fagen (Music Director Emeritus, Atlanta Opera), orchestral musicians, arts administrators, peers, and audience members. Finalists are evaluated not only on musical skill, but also on leadership, communication, and vision under pressure.

The program also features “Three Tracks for a Global Community. “In the “Maestro Track,” four finalists will compete for a $3,000 prize and an Assistant Conductor appointment for the Bloomington Opera Camp™ 2027. Rising artists will receive daily podium time and full access to the leadership curriculum on the “Conducting Fellow Track.” Finally, the “Conducting Apprentice Track” is aimed at emerging conductors, composers, and arts administrators to gain observational insight into the conductor’s professional ecosystem.

The 360° Maestro™ is scheduled for Aug. 24–29, 2026, in Bloomington, Indiana. Applications for the inaugural cohort are now open, with an Early Bird and priority review deadline of Feb. 28. The program welcomes conductors and arts professionals of all nationalities.

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