Daniel Rueda-Blanco

It is my pleasure and honour to recommend the Conducting Masterclasses led by Naoki Sugiyama. During my conducting studies in Vienna, I attended several of his lessons, where he provided me with a profound and clear insight as both conductor and orchestra musician. Even after my studies, he provided me with valuable advice for my artistic activity and concert performances — even referencing different editions of the same score and detailed differences and mistakes among them.

As a conductor, Naoki possesses a strong and complete knowledge and experience in the symphonic repertoire; deeply rooted in the Viennese traditions, but always with a global perspective. He has a clear, excellent technique, whose remarkable depth and expressivity is always supported by this knowledge. Having been an experienced orchestra musician, Naoki understands deeply the psychology of an orchestra, being capable of achieving that every musician gains a strong understanding of the score and its inner relations, creating solid and profound performances. Here I would like to highlight Naoki's remarkable experience as an opera conductor, with a solid understanding of the voice and its possibilities.

These features make Naoki an excellent professor for aspiring conductors. His mastery makes him capable of finding the best unique way to guide every student in his or her individuality; often anticipating problems, presenting proactive solutions and, most of all, keeping a solid balance between the conceptual knowledge and its practical application with the orchestra. As a student and later as a professional conductor, this balance has been of profound influence on my artistic path, and I remain thankful to Naoki for this lesson, among many others.

Naoki Sugiyama is a profound artist and a solid leader and professor, and I warmly recommend his lessons to any aspiring conductor. His profound knowledge, solid experience and assertive, proactive communication make him an excellent guide within the understanding, the precision and the sensitivity of music, as well as for the artistic path in the long term. I strongly encourage every aspiring conductor to attend his valuable lessons.

Please feel free to contact me if you need any further information. I will be happy to assist you.