ORDA-2026 Teachers' Conference

Hosted by Sarah Jeffery
Keynote speaker: Chris Orton

Saturday 11 July 2026, 10:00–18:00
Felix Meritis / Koepelzaal

Part of the Open Recorder Days Amsterdam is the Teachers’ conference. The ORDA festivals 2015, 2017, 2019 & 2023 offered a varied and very diverse range of speakers and we are once again hoping for a very interesting event on Saturday 11 July 2026.

This year’s theme is Bridging the Gap: motivating and nurturing teenage students

As a music teacher, it can be challenging to help students through the teenage years. We often see students stop taking music lessons when they enter high school, because they experience extra pressure, such as homework. If talented teenage students do continue with lessons, how do we build a lasting supportive community, connecting both peers and their parents/guardians? 

How can they be properly supported in the choice to to study music professionally? And how do we advocate for support from our community and local government? The session will conclude with a roundtable discussion.

SCHEDULE

10:00 Opening and keynote lecture

——Short break——

11:15 - Presentation 1

11:45 - Presentation 2

12:15 - Presentation 3

——Lunch break——

14:15 - Presentation 4

14:45 - Presentation 5

——Short break——

15:45 Conference round table chaired by Sarah Jeffery

17:00 Networking chat: an opportunity to get to know one another and swap contact details