“On Thursday, I started getting messages directly from musicians, and on Friday, about Mélisse’s qualities as a conductor,” McLeod said. “There was unprecedented response, spontaneous response from the musicians telling me that I needed to come and hear her and meet her […]”

It would allow a majority of the jury to not forget to notice that Brunet and Dubitsky make music in a very determined and pertinent way.

Brunet, Dubitsky, Zeniodi, Sułkowska-Migoń et Slusarczyk are the five names to remember from this competition.

Notably here the French Mélisse Brunet, last candidate to conduct on Friday, who energized an exhausted orchestra and interpretatively recreated Louise Farrenc’s 2nd Symphony like nobody did.

A skilled and polished conductor with an excellent pedigree… Brunet led the orchestra with panache and clarity…

Mélisse Brunet led the ensemble with conviction… and repeatedly found moments of scoring and melody that can only be described as delicious.