The background chatter is all about AI right now but it seems that the baton is fast becoming one of the most sought-after tools in the next generation of Australian musicians’ repertoires, with more students undertaking conducting studies at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music in unprecedented numbers.

Enrolments in the Con’s undergraduate conducting program have increased six-fold since 2019, prompting the institution to introduce additional classes and a new honours pathway for students wanting to pursue conducting at a higher level.

For Dr Elizabeth Scott, lecturer in conducting at the Con, the surge has been “extraordinary and pleasantly surprising.”

“It could be due to students wanting to increase their skills for the future,” Scott says. “If they have the skills to conduct a school band, orchestra, choir or a musical theatre ensemble, it makes them more employable. And conducting is an exciting field of music. It attracts leaders.”

Elizabeth Scott: “It connects you with the idea of yourself as a leader.” Photo supplied

The growing interest reflects a broader understanding among young musicians that conducting is not simply about mastering a beat pattern – it is about communication, collaboration and leadership.

Professor Benjamin Northey,...