The Nashville Symphony is helping to play matchmaker this week. At least, that’s the hope as the orchestra hosts a national showcase for up-and-coming conductors.

If a violinist is looking for work, she plays a solo to prove her skill.

It’s more complicated for conductors.

Conductors need access to dozens of talented musicians willing to listen to their instructions and follow their movements. Without a whole orchestra, there’s no real way for a conductor to show how well he or she can interpret music and lead an ensemble.

That’s where the League of American Orchestras comes in. Every two years or so, the league finds a professional orchestra willing to play host to several promising young conductors. Then hundreds of orchestras (there are roughly 700 in the league) and artist managers are invited to watch. Some looking for new talent send representatives to sit in on rehearsals and a concert in person. Even more watch video of the performances afterwards.

Nashville Symphony music director Giancarlo Guerrero got his big break at the conductor preview. That’s one reason why the NSO was a natural fit to host this year’s showcase. What’s more, League president Jesse Rosen says the orchestra’s musicians are not just skilled, they’re flexible. “You don’t want an orchestra to play things the way they’re used to playing. You want them to respond in real time to what each conductor’s doing,” he says.

As host, Guerrero chose a slate of musical selections that the orchestra has rehearsed and performed in the past. For the most part, the conductors choose at will which pieces from that slate they’ll use to fill their time with the orchestra. However, Rosen says there is one required piece that will be repeated with each turn, so any differences in the conductors’ interpretations can be compared.

Five conductors will take turns on Wednesday evening at the Schermerhorn Symphony Center. The concert will be open to the public.