Moyue Zhou ’22 MMus was selected as one of nine young conductors from across the world—and the only participant trained in the US—for the 2025 Riccardo Muti Italian Opera Academy in Milan. Over 11 days of public master classes and rehearsals, Muti worked closely with each participant on Mozart’s Don Giovanni, culminating in a final concert at Fondazione Prada. Each participant conducted sections of the opera.

“Working with Maestro Muti was an unforgettable and deeply inspiring experience. His musical standards are incredibly precise, and he has very specific expectations for both the singers and the orchestra,” Zhou said. “What struck me most was how strongly he emphasized the dramatic dimension of Don Giovanni. Every musical detail serves the theater—phrasing, articulation, and timing all contribute to shaping the drama on stage.” During rehearsals Muti shared insights with singers about how to fashion their characters and how the music reflects the psychology of each role.

“Watching him guide both orchestra and cast to create a unified dramatic vision was truly remarkable,” Zhou said. “It was a powerful lesson in how a conductor can transform a score into living theater.”

Muti, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra’s music director emeritus for life, established his opera academy in 2015 to share his expertise in Italian opera with new generations. Bienen alumnus Nicholas Koo ’18 MMus, ’22 DMA was selected for the 2022 edition in Ravenna.

Zhou said her training at Bienen under professor emeritus Victor Yampolsky provided a solid technical and musical foundation in conducting. At Northwestern she had the opportunity to work with several ensembles, including the Symphony Orchestra, Chamber Orchestra, and Baroque Music Ensemble, and to collaborate with Patrick Furrer on Puccini’s La bohème with Northwestern Opera Theater.

“These experiences helped me develop rehearsal technique, score study habits, and the ability to communicate musical ideas clearly to an orchestra,” she said. “Looking back, my time at Northwestern gave me both the technical preparation and the artistic curiosity that continue to shape my work today.”