The 36th International Conductors Workshop and Competition is scheduled for January 16-19, 2026 in Atlanta, Georgia. This popular, intensive, well-attended, and well-respected workshop and competition is open to a limited number of conductors at all levels of experience and is based on the techniques of Monteux, Musin, and Szell. With the passing of Maestro Adrian Gnam, the workshop is named in his honor, and Maestro Gregory Pritchard will assume leadership as Director. Hosted by the Gwinnett Symphony Orchestra and governed by its Board of Directors, the ICWC continues its long tradition of excellence in conductor training and professional development.

Each participant will conduct the fully professional ICWC Orchestra for up to 60 minutes throughout the workshop and on a public performance on Martin Luther King Day, Monday, January 19th, 2026. A major benefit of the ICWC may include the selection of one or more winners to conduct on a concert of the Gwinnett Symphony Chamber Orchestra or the Millikin-Decatur Symphony Orchestra during a current or future season, depending on the orchestra and winner’s availability. Appearances and programming are negotiable.

Participant fees are $1,550, which include a high-quality, professionally recorded video of each conductor’s podium sessions. Applications will be accepted until the workshop is filled; however, those submitted by November 9, 2025, will receive priority consideration. Upon notification of acceptance, the full participation fee is due by December 2, 2025. The auditor fee is $150, and there is no application fee.

Past ICWC participants have recently won the Respighi Prize and the George Solti Award, and have gained conducting positions with the Cincinnati, Dallas, Ft. Worth, Dayton, Detroit, New Jersey, Houston, Richmond, Portland (ME), Bozeman, St. Louis, Oregon, Savannah, Greenville, SC, Minnesota, Los Angeles, Hamilton, Canada, Tokyo, and New Zealand Orchestras, as well as positions with college, university, and youth orchestras.

The International Conductor's Workshop and Competition was founded in 2004 by iconic American conductor Adrian Gnam. With his passing in 2025, the workshop has been renamed, as of the 35th session, the Adrian Gnam International Conductors Workshop and Competition, in honor of his lasting legacy and dedication to the cause of American orchestral music.

Maestro Gnam served the American musical landscape for over 65 years, holding positions either as oboist or Music Director of the entire gamut of American Orchestras-from major to regional, from metropolitan to community. His service as President of the Conductor's Guild elevated it to become the most important conductor's organization in the nation. His eight year tenure as Director of the Music Program at the National Endowment for the Arts, literally transformed the Endowment's service to American Orchestras. On his watch , the endowment became the premier voice of American Orchestras to the U.S. Congress. His vision restructured the Endowment, creating entirely new areas in which orchestras were supported , and in turn, could serve their communities. That vision for how orchestras could be sustained, and could serve the needs of their communities, remains an indelible influence on all orchestras in America, now and into the future. For this service and vision, Maestro Gnam was awarded a special Distinguished Service Award for "outstanding, innovative and precedent-setting contributions to furthering the goals and missions of the Endowment and enhancing the Arts on a national scale."

Deeply committed to the future of music in America, throughout his career Maestro Gnam served the cause of music education. Through his years as an educator at universities throughout the country, and through this International Competition and Workshop, he produced some of the best instrumentalists and conductors of this and the next generation. It is with great pride that we continue the legacy of this giant of American music, in his honor.