The Mark and Randi Ravitts Woodworth Award for Young Conductors
We are delighted to introduce you to our 2026 conducting Intern, Eli Zelman. Here is a little about him: 
Eli Zelman brings a well-rounded background in conducting, music education, and orchestral performance. He currently serves as Assistant Conductor, Production Assistant, Assistant Librarian, and Musician Liaison for The Hamptons Festival of Music in East Hampton, NY, and holds the positions of Assistant Conductor and Assistant Librarian with the Atlanta Musicians' Orchestra. In addition, Zelman works as the Academy Development & Production Assistant at The Art of Conducting Academy and is the Principal Guest Director of Concordi Laetitia in Atlanta, GA.
His past roles include Library Assistant with the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and Chamber Coach for the Metropolitan Youth Symphony Orchestra. Eli has taken part in numerous conducting workshops and festivals, such as the International Conducting Workshop & Festival, the Conductor's Institute of South Carolina, and masterclasses in Chicago and at USC.
Zelman has been teaching violin, music theory, and history privately since 2017, while also holding several leadership positions in the Georgia State University Symphony Orchestra, including Student President, Concertmaster, Associate Concertmaster, and Principal Second Violin.
His extensive accolades include 1st and Platinum Prizes in conducting and orchestral competitions, such as the New York Classical Music Competition, VanBach International Music Competition, and the World's Best Musicians Competition. Zelman is currently pursuing an MM in Orchestral Conducting at the Bienen School of Music, Northwestern University, after earning a BM in Violin Performance from Georgia State University, where he graduated Summa Cum Laude.
The Application Form is available HERE
Previous Awardees
Please click the button below to see previous awardees.Previous Awardees
