Careers in Orchestras Careers in Orchestras
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2019-2020 Season Guide for Young Concert-goers CareersCareers inin OrchestrasOrchestras Many people earn a living working for an arts organization, such as an orchestra – from the performers on stage, to support staff who raise money enabling the orchestra to operate; manage artistic and stage operations; market and promote the orchestra’s programs; provide music education for children and adults; keep the building in good condition; assist our concert-goers, and much more. The Cleveland Orchestra employs over 230 people. Of that number, approximately 100 musicians and 2 conductors perform on stage, and roughly 130 administrative and support staff work behind the scenes to make the concerts and all other activities possible. Digital Designer Stage Crew Behind-the-scenes staff who set the stage, or Developer control lighting and sound, move and transport instruments, and more, for all of the Orchestra’s Sample Job Titles: Creates and runs the Orchestra’s digital platforms performances in Severance Hall, Blossom Music and applications and manages the Orchestra’s use Accounting Manager Finance Director Center, and locations around the world where the of online media. Orchestra tours. Building Engineer Facilities Director Education: College degree in computer science, Chief Artistic Officer Graphic Production Education: High school graduate Artist game designer certification, or similar. Chief Brand Officer Qualifications: Working knowledge of sound Skills Needed: It’s useful to know object-oriented Guest Experience and lighting boards as well as basic carpentry Chief Executive Officer programming languages such as Java. Director skills and the ability to keep up with new Chief Philanthropy and Human Resources How to Get Started: Be curious! Explore how technology. Advancement Officer Director different apps and websites are built. Skills Needed: Basic computer and math skills, Chorus Manager Information Systems The best part of the job: The fantastic music and good people skills, excellent problem solving Communications Manager the challenges of constantly changing technology. skills, ability to work very long hours! Director Mail Room Supervisor Career Tip: Channel your skills and passion into How to Get Started: Smaller community theaters Digital Designer building something for yourself or friends. are the perfect settings to learn the fundamental Marketing Director For More Information: Check out KhanAcademy.org workings of ‘backstage’. Driver (for Music Orchestra Personnel Director & Guest Director The best part of the job: Working with the Artists) members of a world-class orchestra and hearing Program Book Editor beautiful music; also, every day brings news Education & Community Programs Director Ticket Services Orchestra Musician tasks and challenges which keeps the job Director interesting. Events Manager To earn a spot in any symphony orchestra, a Youth Orchestra musician must go through a series of rigorous Career Tip: This is not a 9-5 job. You must work Executive Secretary Manager auditions (tryouts). After a musician has earned a long days, often including evenings, weekends, spot in an orchestra, they do their part to ensure and many holidays. If that sounds appealing, this that the orchestra is performing at its peak each may be the job for you! week. They may rehearse 10 or more hours with For More Information: Contact the Cleveland the entire orchestra and practice many more hours chapter of the union of International Alliance of Music Librarian at home on the concert music being performed Theatrical Stage Employees, Local 27. Acquires, organizes, and maintains the music that week, and on fundamentals to keep their performed by the orchestra, marks/edits musical skills sharp. Many orchestra musicians also teach, parts and provides the correct parts for every player participate in chamber music, and perform as on stage for every piece for every concert; serves as soloists. an advisor and reference to conductors regarding Director of Fundraising performance history, timings for concert planning, Education: College or Conservatory degree(s) in The primary purpose of the Orchestra is to provide instruments/players required for each piece, and more! music performance. outstanding musical experiences, but the money Skills Needed: A mastery-level of musicianship earned from selling tickets to concerts does Education: Training in both music and librarianship gained over years of practice and study; self- not cover all of the costs to run an Orchestra. are necessary. A master’s degree in library or discipline and time management skills; the ability Therefore, we seek additional financial support information science or music is valuable. to work long hours, often under pressure, and to from individuals, companies, foundations, and Skills Needed: Excellent organization and collaborate as part of a team. government sources. information management skills (researching, compiling, cataloging, filing, retrieval), computer How to Get Started: The earlier you begin Education: College degree instrument study, the better. Several string skills for maintaining and accessing music library players in our orchestra started as early as 4 Skills Needed: The ability to set and meet goals databases, thorough knowledge of music history years old! Participating in school orchestra, and motivate team members, excellent customer and repertoire, working knowledge of German and band, youth orchestra and other instrumental service and communications skills, passion, at least one Romance language (Italian, French, ensembles provide excellent training. perseverance, and follow-up. Spanish), extremely clear handwriting, ability to play very close attention to detail. The best part of the job: Working with world- How to Get Started: Volunteer with a non-profit class musicians and making beautiful music organization or work in a college telefunding center How to Get Started: Getting an internship in a music together; also, traveling to other countries to to learn how these organizations raise money. library or with a small performance ensemble (even perform; and having a job you are passionate The best part of the job: Building relationships assisting the school choir or band director) is a good about. with generous and kind people who love music, introduction to music librarianship. Career Tip: Practice, practice, practice! Cleveland, and The Cleveland Orchestra. The best part of the job: Working with famous Thorough preparation is critical to everything Career Tip: Meet as many people as you can conductors and guest artists. you do. in your community. It is important to be well- Career Tip: Learn as much about music and music For More Information: To learn more about the connected when you work in fundraising. notation as you can, as well as music history and Orchestra’s musicians and their career paths, For More Information: Check out afpcleveland.org repertoire. Be aware that the hours can be long. visit www.clevelandorchestra.com/about/ (association of fundraising professionals in For More Information: musicians-and-conductors/ Cleveland). Check out www.musiclibraryassoc.org 2018-19 Season Guide for Young Concert-goers Sensational Strings! Brilliant Historians think the first string instrument was developed from the Brass! caveman’s hunting bow and developed Brass instruments over time into early members of the have been around since ancient times. Horns string family including the zither, have been pictured on the walls of primitive lyre, dulcimer, and lute. Stringed dwellings and Egyptian tombs, and described instruments used today have on crumbling scrolls and clay tablets. They have changed little since the 1600s; been made of bone, cane, an animal’s horn, and (in fact, some violinists play metal. Brass instruments have played important instruments that were made roles throughout history from communicating way back then!). Members of messages over long distances, to announcing the the orchestral string family arrival of dignitaries and royalty, to war, hunting, include (from highest to and celebrations. The members of the brass family lowest) violin, viola, are (from highest to lowest) trumpet, French horn, cello, and double bass. trombone, and tuba. The harp is also a How brass instruments work: A player puts her member of the lips together and buzzes air through them into On December 11, 2018, string family. the metal mouthpiece. This starts the air vibrating The Cleveland Orchestra How string instruments work: Vibration of the through the hollow metal tube, which comes out of will be 100 years old! strings is the key to making sound. Plucking a the “bell” at the far end of the tubing, magnifying We’ve come a long way since string with your finger or pulling a bow across its sound! You play different notes on a brass those early days when the the string will start the string vibrating. The instrument by tightening and loosening your lips and by pressing down valves (or in the case of the orchestra was founded by bow is made of wood and horse hair. You trombone, by moving the slide in and out!). Adella Prentiss Hughes – yes, change pitch by playing a different string or by The Cleveland Orchestra placing your finger on a string to make it shorter (shorter=higher in pitch). was founded by a woman in Power-Packed Percussion! 1918! Today, The Cleveland The percussion family includes all of the Orchestra is considered one of instruments that are ‘struck’ in some way. We the top orchestras in the world. Wondrous Woodwinds! The first woodwind instruments may have no official records of when humans first used percussion instruments, but from ancient times, Our Orchestra is made up of have been made by blowing through an drums have been used for tribal dances and for approximately 100 musicians old animal bone! Flutes made of bone and decorated wood are found in the communications of all kinds. Today, there are more each of whom triumphed in instruments in the percussion family than in any very competitive auditions to history of many cultures. At first the holes were open and needed to be other. They can be grouped into two types: first, win a position in The Cleveland covered by fingers to change pitch.