So what does an orchestra manager do?

I have been asked this question countless times from people both inside and outside of the festival. What do I do? Well…I manage an orchestra naturally. Sound simple? Few people realize what actually goes into this seemingly self explanatory job title.

Before I begin, I must differentiate between orchestra management on a macro and micro scale. On a larger macro scale, the term orchestra management refers to everything that goes on behind the scenes not just to produce concerts, but to sustain an orchestra as a relevant and positively contributing force in the community. This use of this term encompasses all aspects of the biz from the logistics of performing a concert (operations) to educational initiatives to advertisement, financial governance, and beyond. As you already know, developing as an “orchestra manager” through the Fellowship is an attempt to cover all of this ground.

My specific job as manager of the Aspen Festival Orchestra, however, falls into only one of these sub categories despite its shared name with the macro term. Micro orchestra management, sometimes known as personnel management, falls under the umbrella of the operations department and primarily deals with the logistics of overseeing rehearsals, performances, and their preparation. As the AFO manager, I help or have helped…

• Organize and set up auditions between faculty members and students
• Compile and distribute weekly personnel rosters specific to instrument and musical work
• Draw stage plots that the stage crew uses to set up every chair, stand, etc.
• Coordinate with the orchestra librarian to get each student their music
• Act as an on-site contact with conductors and guest artists in regards to rehearsals/performances
• Handle a variety of personnel issues such as attendance, rotations, and bitter rivalries (just kidding…mostly)
• Make daily announcements to the musicians
• Address the audience during open dress rehearsals
• Act as an immediate contact between administration and the musicians

These several responsibilities are always in a state of flux with factors changing here and there on almost an hourly basis (not an exaggeration). A good sane and flexible head on your shoulders as well as an incredible knack for organization are pretty much the two biggest ingredients for success as an orchestra manager. For the AFO, most of this work rolls over on a weekly basis with rehearsals consistently occurring each week from Thursday to Sunday with a concert each Sunday afternoon.

So there you have it, the job of the Aspen Festival Orchestra manager in a nutshell. As of now, I’m starting to get a feel for this weekly gambit and with repetition comes refinement which leads to some free time to take on extra projects in a variety of other departments of the Festival.