1）ACADEMY SCHEDULE
Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy in Bled 2026 will present Donizetti’s popular melodrama giocoso Opera, “L’Elisir d’Amore”. Semi-Staged production.
The following are the total conducting hours across the programme, shared among all active and participating conductors:
– 8 full performances on tour in different cities in Slovenia
– a select number of conductors to conduct in Ljubljana along with Mo. Pehlivanian (TBA by Mo. Pehlivanian)
– Up to 55 hours with pianos
– 26 hours in orchestra rehearsals
– 8 hours in sound check/stage set up before performances (1 hour per city performance)
– 8 semi staged concert performances, up to 2 and a half hours each
The Academy is an educational programme. The schedule, repertoire, tour cities, and the number and location of performances, together with the orchestra, faculty and the allocation of podium time, are indicative and may be adjusted where necessary, including for reasons beyond the Academy’s control such as adverse weather, venue availability, illness or other force majeure. Podium time is shared among the participating conductors and allocated at the artistic discretion of Maestro Pehlivanian. Public rehearsals and performances form part of the training and are a learining requirement, not an employment engagement.
2）PERSONALIZED TRAINING WITH Mo. PEHLIVANIAN
Maestro Pehlivanian is an expert in teaching and training professional conductors. Over 25 years of experience as professor. He will guide each one of his conductors according to their personal needs and develop individually their strengths.
Maestro will accept conductors on video auditions for admittance in the Academy, and will groom individually every conductor in a unique and perosnalized way, which he is well known for.
Maestro Pehlivanian is the Founder and Director of his own National Orchestra in Slovenia, the POA Festival Orchestra. This orchestra will play for the Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy.
3）DURATION AND LOCATION OF THE COURSE
July 20 – August 15, 2026
BLED, SLOVENIA
– The Academy will take place from July 20 to August 1, 2026, in the Bled Festival Hall
– The Premiere will be on August 2 and last concert on August 15
20 – 23 July: CONDUCTORS TRAIN WITH PIANO AND MO. PEHLIVANIAN
24 July – 27 July: CONDUCTORS AND SINGERS COACHINGS AND PEPARATION OF OPERA WITH PIANO
28 July – 01 August: 8 ORCHESTRA REHEARSALS OF 3 1/4 HOURS EACH , TUTTI
02 – 15 August: L’ELISIR D’AMORE ON TOUR, UP TO 8 SEMI STAGED CONCERT PERFORMANCES
4）REQUIREMENTS FROM APPLICANTS
– no age limit
– all professional and student conductors can apply
– fill in the application form
5）APPLICATION FORM
The application form must be sent from December 20th, 2025 to February 28th, 2026.
The application must contain:
– Filled-in application form
– Artistic CV in English
– File mp4 of candidate’s performance (minimum 7 min. duration)
Any questions can be sent to the following e-mail address: poa.bled@gmail.com
6）SELECTION OF APPLICANTS
Maestro Pehlivanian will evaluate all eligible applications received by the deadline personally.
Those chosen will be contacted by email by March 5, 2026.
At the end of Pehlivanian Professional Opera Academy, all active conductors and singers will receive a Certificate of Participation signed by Maestro Pehlivanian.
7）ACADEMY TUITION
Participation in PPOA is a tuition-based opportunity. Selected conductors will receive direct communication regarding tuition details and payment arrangements upon acceptance into the program.
All travel, as well as boarding and lodging costs, will be entirely at each conductor’s own expense.
All cancellations after June 15,2026 as conductors in PPOA, the tuition and residence fees will be non-refundable, for any reason.
