Course Eligibility

For CFF Budapest

The course running 2 – 5 October in Budapest is now FULL.

However, you can apply to be put on the waitlist in case someone drops out, or for 2026.

2026 dates will not be announced until March or April 2026, but are likely to be in late September / early October.

Participation is open to adults (a) with an undergraduate or master’s degree in music ideally within the last 3-4 years, or (b) who can demonstrate a similar level of skill. Particularly important requirements are:

  • The ability to read a full score

  • A working knowledge of orchestration

  • Experience playing at least one instrument to a high level.

Previous conducting experience is beneficial but not required, as Daryl is quite skilled at tailoring feedback to differing levels. Please see FAQs for more information.

For suitably qualified applicants, spaces will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

£1100

+ VAT for UK participants only

Cost (2025)

The costs for 2026 will be announced at the same time as the dates.

  • Daryl tries to keep them as affordable as he can for those at the early stages of their career. He doesn’t even charge for his time. Only for the musicians, the venue and for work by his employees to produce the attendee videos. As the first two are largely outside his control, it is likely the costs will increase from one year to the next.

    • To give you an idea, 2025’s course fee rose to £1100 from £999 in 2024.

Since the 2025 course is now full, and all required payments have been made, applicants accepted between now and 2 October, 2025 will be put on a waitlist for this year’s course and notified, in application acceptance order, if a confirmed student drops out. Unlikely, but it happened last year! Waitlisted applicants may not get much notice if this happens.

  • Should the waitlist spot be accepted, full payment would be due immediately.

  • If students decline an offered waitlist spot, they will still keep their priority position for 2026. and we will present the 2025 opportunity to the next person on the waitlist.

Once the details for 2026 have been finalised, this website will be updated with more precise terms and conditions. However, as they will follow those for previous years, we can give the below general guidance.

The course fee, including deposit, is 100% refundable only if cancelled or postponed by Conducting for Film. The course will be activated with a minimum number of participants.

Students will need to find and pay for their own transportation, lodging and meal arrangements, though we will provide suggestions upon acceptance to the course.  

We recommend students take out travel insurance in case of problems outside of anyone’s control.

All payments must be paid by bank transfer, the details of which will be provided upon acceptance to the program.

Spots will be offered to accepted students on a first-come, first-served basis. So, the sooner students apply, the less likely they are to miss out!

Once the 2026 dates and costs have been announced, the first 6 students accepted for 2026 will be given two weeks to pay their deposit of 25% of the course fee (including VAT for UK-based participants only) .

The remaining balance will be due within two weeks of confirmation that the course will run, due to the minimum numbers having been achieved.

2026 dates are likely to be announced March or April for Sept/Oct course dates, with the latest “go” decision being taken in early August. However, course activation could take place much sooner. For example, 2024’s course was confirmed in late June, while 2025 was confirmed in early April.