The Foundation recognises the following courses, once associated directly with George Hurst, or related to his teaching legacy. Please note that these courses are run independently of the George Hurst Foundation.
Girton Conducting Course
An internationally-recognised summer course established in 2021, and taught by Dominic Grier (Tutor in Conducting, Royal Academy of Music), Denise Ham (Former Director, London Conducting Academy), Cathal Garvey (Tutor in Choral Conducting, Royal Academy of Music) and Leif Tse (Royal College of Music), along with Senior Accompanist John Longstaff.
This course caters for Professional and Advanced conductors in a dedicated small class, as well as for a larger group of Intermediate conductors. Students at an earlier stage of their development are accommodated in separate beginners’ classes.
The course benefits from the presence of professional pianists in every workshop, the expertise of three highly-regarded tutors, a professional string quartet, and sessions with a full orchestra drawn from among the talented pool of players in the Cambridge area.
The location, in the beautiful and historic setting of Girton College at the University of Cambridge, is second-to-none, and provides an idyllic summer retreat in which to study.
Sherborne Summer School of Music
Formerly the Canford Summer School of Music, Sherborne hosts the original conductors’ course associated with George Hurst, which now bears his name. Ideal for music educators, those seeking an entry-level introduction to the Toscanini-Barzin technique and the teaching legacy of George Hurst, as well as for students at an Intermediate/Advanced level. A further course, ‘Practical Conducting’, also caters for those with limited experience.
The late Rodolfo Saglimbeni (Former Music Director, National Orchestra of Chile) directed both courses until his untimely death in June 2025, with Denise Ham and John Longstaff also providing tuition. The current staff includes Robert Houlihan (who had also taught at Canford from 1989-2012) and Natalia Luis-Bassa, both former students of George Hurst.
Tuition for most students takes place within small mixed-ability groups — students are expected to sing the scores for those conducting, or student pianists are otherwise drawn from within the class, if any are available. There are also instrumental workshops and occasional sessions with a larger orchestra.
London Conducting Academy
[The London Conducting Academy sadly closed down in 2024]
A year-long part-time course providing comprehensive training in the art and craft of conducting. The LCA was run under the auspices of the Greenwich Music School and was directed by one of the foremost teachers of conducting in Europe, Denise Ham.
Dominic Grier Conducting Masterclasses
Held at the Royal Academy of Music, these masterclasses take place at least four times a year, and explore a large variety of repertoire, with particular emphasis on interpretative practice derived from the teaching of George Hurst. Participation is by invitation only, and is usually reserved for very advanced or professional conductors.
The classes are open to the general public, and current/former students from the other conducting courses listed find the classes a helpful complement or refresher for their studies.