2027 Conductor Workshop
Key Details
Date: Saturday 21 and Sunday 22 November
Time: 9am - 4:30pm both days
Venue: The Old Museum, 480 Gregory Terrace Bowen Hills
Fee: $180 for 1 day, $300 for 2 days
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Description text goes hWhether you regularly lead an ensemble, are developing your skills on the podium, or are curious about conducting for the first time, this 2-day seminar offers a rare opportunity to explore the craft of conducting with leading conductors and music educators in a practical, supportive environment.
Presented in partnership by Queensland Youth Orchestras and Yamaha Music Australia, the weekend brings together Prof. Rob McWilliams, Dr Joanne Heaton and Simon Hewett, alongside the 2026 Yamaha Great Start Fellows, for two days exploring conducting technique, rehearsal practice, musical communication and ensemble leadership.
At the centre of the weekend is a 13-piece Queensland Youth Orchestras wind ensemble, giving participants the opportunity to see conducting principles translated immediately into live musical outcomes.
The program includes two distinct opportunities: an intensive professional development program for music educators and conductors, and a free introductory conducting workshop for high school students.re
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Across the weekend, participants will:
Take part in practical conducting technique and warm-up sessions.
Learn from presentations led by Prof. Rob McWilliams, Dr Joanne Heaton and Simon Hewett.
Observe rehearsals and conducting sessions with a live 13-piece QYO wind ensemble.
Hear experienced clinicians unpack what they see and hear, with immediate feedback and debrief following conducting sessions.
Explore approaches that can be applied directly to school and ensemble rehearsals.
Learn alongside the three 2026 Yamaha Great Start Fellows – Christopher Retter, Harry Merrifield and Meg McWilliams.
Connect with other music educators and conductors committed to continuing their own development.
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A limited number of participants will also have the opportunity to conduct the QYO ensemble, receiving guidance and feedback from the clinician team.
When registering, participants will be invited to indicate their conducting experience and whether they are interested in a podium opportunity.
Places for the practical conducting rotation are limited.
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The Yamaha Great Start Fellowship is a 12-month professional development program designed to support and develop emerging leaders in instrumental music education.
The 2026 Fellows – Christopher Retter, Harrison Merrifield and Meg McWilliams – were selected to receive ongoing mentoring from Yamaha Music Australia’s Education Outreach clinicians, alongside access to professional learning, industry events and opportunities to learn from leading music educators and conductors in Australia and internationally.
QYO and Yamaha Music Australia present a two day weekend workshop exploring conducting technique, rehearsal practice, musical communication and ensemble leadership.
Workshop Schedule
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Conducting Technique and Warm-Up
Professional Learning Session with Dr Joanne Heaton
Morning Tea
Professional Learning Session with Simon Hewett
Lunch
Conducting in Practice: Yamaha Fellow with the QYO Ensemble
Afternoon Tea and Debrief
Rehearsal and Conducting in Practice: Yamaha Fellows with the QYO Ensemble
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Conducting Technique and Warm-Up
Professional Learning Session with Prof. Rob McWilliams
Morning Tea
Participant Conducting Sessions with the QYO Ensemble
Lunch
Conducting in Practice: Yamaha Fellows with the QYO Ensemble
Afternoon Tea and Debrief
Final Conducting and Rehearsal Sessions with the QYO Ensemble
Free High School Student Session
Date: Saturday 21 November
Time: 11am - 12:30pm
Venue: The Old Museum, 480 Gregory Terrace Brisbane
Cost: FREE
Ever wondered what it's like to stand in front of an ensemble?
Conducting is a unique combination of music, communication and leadership, and this free workshop offers high school musicians the chance to explore it for themselves.
Led by the 2026 Yamaha Fellows – Christopher Retter, Harry Merrifield and Meg McWilliams – alongside Prof. Rob McWilliams and Dr Joanne Heaton, this practical session will introduce students to some of the foundations of conducting through guided exercises and activities.
Students will have the opportunity to explore how conductors communicate musical ideas, lead musicians and begin developing confidence in front of an ensemble.
This session is designed as an introduction to conducting and an opportunity for young musicians to experience a side of music-making they may not have explored before.
Masterclass Clinicians
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Dr. Rob McWilliams
Dr. Rob McWilliams was born and raised in Melbourne, Australia. He holds a Ph. D. in Music/Music Education (conducting focus) from the University of Minnesota, a Master's degree in Instrumental Conducting from Florida State University, and a Bachelor's degree in Music Education from the University of Melbourne. Dr. McWilliams was a United States resident from 1991 to 2014 and served as Professor of Music and Director of Bands and Instrumental Music Education at the University of Wisconsin Oshkosh from 1996 where he also served as Head of Music from 2011 to 2014. Dr. McWilliams has conducted and presented at major music conferences in Japan, Hong Kong, the United Kingdom, Singapore, Europe, China, all states of Australia, and has been published in the Journal of Band Research, Teaching Music Through Performance, and is a composer/arranger with Alfred's Music. In early 2015 he relocated to Brisbane, Australia where he is currently working for Yamaha Music Australia as their Education Outreach Clinician, as well as teaching sessionally at the Jazz Music Institute and freelancing as a musician, educator, conductor, composer/arranger, and adjudicator.
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Simon Hewett
Simon Hewett is the QYO Director of Music and Conductor of the Queensland Youth Symphony. After completing a Bachelor of Music at the University of Queensland (First Class Honours and a University Medal), Simon received a German Government Scholarship and finished his studies in conducting at the Hochschule für Musik ‘Franz Liszt’ in Weimar, Germany. He made his debut with Opera Australia at the Sydney Opera House in 2003, returning in subsequent years to perform a wide range of operas with OA. In 2012 Simon was awarded a Green Room Award for Best Conductor of an Opera.
In 2005 Simon was appointed Kapellmeister and Assistant Music Director to the Hamburg State Opera. He was Principal Conductor of the Stuttgart Opera from 2011 to 2016, and has appeared as a regular guest conductor at the Royal Opera House Covent Garden, Paris Opera and Vienna State Opera.
Simon was appointed Principal Conductor of the Hamburg Ballet in 2008, and he continues to perform regularly with the Hamburg Ballet at the Hamburg State Opera, and on tour at the Salzburg Festival, the Spoleto Festival, the Baden Baden Festspielhaus, in the USA, Japan, Hong Kong, Moscow and Australia. Alongside his commitments with QYO, Simon continues to perform internationally as a guest conductor, most recently at La Scala, Milan, the Semperoper Dresden, the Hamburg State Opera, and with the Korean National Ballet.
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Jo Heaton
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