Arts Leadership Program
Intern Testimonials
"My internship with Amy Blum Publicity truly helped develop my skills in PR. Throughout the year I wrote press releases, brainstormed upcoming projects, followed-up on news releases, and helped out with odds and ends in the office. The experience greatly increased my understanding of the publicist’s role in a non-for-profit arts organization. I learned that a publicist not only alerts the public of upcoming events, but also understands what will capture the public's interest, staying true to the art. The internship was also very helpful in my publicity projects outside of daily work. Amy Blum was always very willing to help me with my press releases, and her advice greatly improved my news-writing skills."
—2005-2006 Amy Blum Publicity Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Alumni Relations
"If you want to experience handling a variety of challenging and interesting projects at the same time and exercise responsibility, leadership, initiative, problem solving and creative thinking, then the ALP Internship at the Eastman School of Music Office of Alumni Relations is the position for you! You are placed in charge of many serious and important tasks and are granted incredible freedom and independence in the way you chose to accomplish them. The biggest project of my internship was organizing Eastman’s first ever Senior Challenge Campaign. We started the Senior Challenge Committee, put together a PR strategy and a plan of action, organized and managed the Senior Class Group Photo and Senior Challenge Kick-off as well as several Main Hall PR events, and oversaw the campaign to its conclusion. Such hands-on real-life projects gave me new skills in event management, Web updating, and committee work, and sharpened my communication, problem-solving, and leadership abilities. Most importantly, the immense freedom given to me by my supervisor taught me ingenuity and initiative – two qualities that are indispensable for a future entrepreneur."
—2004-2005 Eastman Office of Alumni Relations Intern
"My experience interning in the Office of Alumni Relations at the Eastman School of Music has been extremely rewarding. I had the opportunity to research the history of alumni relations at the School for a 45-year period(1930-1975) and gathered an extraordinary amount of knowledge about alumni relations at Eastman as well as Eastman School in general. The Office of Alumni Relations is a wonderful place to work for those people who really enjoy gathering knowledge and information—especially about Eastman and its graduates. Christine Corrado is the type of person who is interested in making the internship a rewarding and enjoyable experience. I am fortunate to have had this opportunity, and I think that Alumni Relations(and Development) can give interns valuable experience that is directly transferable to the working world."
—2004-2005 Eastman Office of Alumni Relations Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Communications
"Being in the Office of Communications is an experience that every Eastman student should have. As students, we all have to plan and execute our own events. This requires making posters, advertising on Facebook, and many other promotional tasks. These are necessary skills to have for starting musicians! But more importantly, these products and tasks have to be done well. That is where the Office of Communications' intern opportunities kicks in: I not only learned about how to do it, but how to do it effectively, for real-life situations. Throughout the internship, I started to help out and get involved with more in depth projects like the Rochester Review and Eastman Encore, thanks to wonderful co-workers and my supervisor, David. As a result, I was photographed for the cover of our UR Alumni Magazine!"
—2007-2008 ESM Communications Intern
"Working at the Communications Office is one of the greatest experiences I have had here at Eastman. It not only teaches me lots of advertising, marketing and web-based skills but also gives me a glance of what the ‘real world’ is-- working with professionals and having meetings with clients and other offices. And gradually, you will start to find out that people don’t treat you like an intern anymore but like a professional!"
—2006-2007 ESM Communications Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Development
"As the ALP Intern in the Eastman Development Office, I have gained professional experience that has already begun to benefit me as a musician and leader in the arts. I have become proficient with development language, refined my communication skills, developed and managed a fundraising campaign, and learned the art of gift solicitation. I feel fortunate to have worked in an office of such high caliber with an extremely professional and insightful staff. The staff was extremely receptive to me as an intern, and eager to teach me relevant skills. Interns have very much become a part of this office environment and I was treated as a colleague and not "the intern." I highly recommend this internship, specifically to students that seek a career in arts administration."
—2007-2008 ESM Development Intern
"Serving in the ESM Development Office has been a very worthwhile and meaningful internship. The opportunities and responsibilities within the internship are greatly varied, providing me with many experiences in very different areas. As an intern, I have contributed to the organization and execution of the 2008 Senior Challenge. To be able to witness how a fund-raising campaign takes shape and to contribute to its success is indeed a very rewarding experience. I have also been actively involved with the upcoming 50th Reunion; researching and updating Alumni information, drafting personal correspondence, as well as preparing informative materials. However, many of the skills I have acquired are not only valuable for administrative positions in development, but also very applicable to enriching my personal career development. Not only has this internship provided me with practical organizational and fact-finding tools but has given me more confidence in my leadership abilities and confidence to tackle ambitious projects that will contribute to my own career."
—2007-2008 ESM Development Intern
"Interning in the ESM Office of Development has been a wonderful experience that has challenged me in new ways, built professional skills, and facilitated significant personal growth. I had the opportunity to learn about the numerous aspects of development by working closely with staff members on key projects and attending weekly staff meetings. I also helped plan the Senior Challenge—the first senior class gift in Eastman’s history. This long-term project allowed me to see the fundraising campaign process unfold, from beginning to end, while giving me significant first-hand leadership experience. In addition, I researched national and local grant opportunities for Eastman’s key initiatives, wrote letters of inquiry to grant makers, assisted in crafting full-scale grant proposals, and played a central role in securing funding for the 2006 Women in Music Festival. Also, I helped create and secure funding for a first-ever Audience Prize at the Eastman Young Artists International Piano Competition. Working for a major collegiate music institution has given me considerable insight into the inner-workings of a successful arts organization. The experience of this ALP internship, has prepared me not only to be a musician, but a musical leader, innovator, and entrepreneur. I can give only the highest recommendation for this internship."
—2005-2006 ESM Development Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Technology & Media Production
“My internship through ALP has provided me with a broader base of skills and experience with which to go forward. I worked for the Technology and Media Production department, and I learned valuable things about the inner workings of computers and performance technology equipment, including the issues in translation between different platforms. In addition, the personalities involved in the program are nourishing and easy to work with. My colleagues were always ready to jump on a new idea of my own, or to provide me with one of theirs. I highly recommend the experience to anyone seeking to broaden their real-world skills in the music business!”
—2007-2008 ESM Technology & Media Production Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Wellness Initiative Program
“Working with SusanneCallan-Harris in the Physical Therapy Clinic is a great experience!You learn a great deal about structuring and running a wellness program by coordinating wellness events and scheduling massages.As an intern, you often act as the communication link between students and the wellness program staff. In addition, you can gain valuable knowledge about physical therapy and injury prevention techniques that you can apply to your own career as a musician.The intern also works to some degree with the Dean of Student's office, which deals with the “official” aspects of the program (such as billing for massages and approving events).”
—2003-2004 RPO Eastman Wellness Initiative Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Women in Music Festival
"As an intern for the Women in Music Festival, I gained hands-on insight into what it is like to see a musical project from the conceptual stages all the way to the final product of a week-long concert series. Never before have I had the opportunity to work so closely with the director of a festival. With her, I was able to collaborate in developing the mission statement, the logo and conceptual design. I assisted with marketing, publicity, and all the intricacies of what goes into launching a concert series and festival in the real world. It was so exciting to appear in radio and newspaper interviews and articulate why I was so enthusiastic about the project. I acted as a liaison between the director and artists, and I had opportunities to moderate discussions and write professionally -- all within an internship! I was even able to play in the festival, fusing both the administrative and artistic sides together. This invaluable experience is one of the most important aspects of my Eastman education."
—2005-2006 and 2006-2007 Eastman Women in Music Festival Intern
Eastman School of Music -- Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative (EROI)
“As an ALP E.R.O.I. intern I had a chance to see two contrasting faces of an institutional organization. On the one hand, there was the Eastman School of Music with its different departments and their corresponding well-defined activities (for example Alumni, Communications, Development, etc.). On the other, the E.R.O.I. with many different individuals who were presented with challenges around a sense of obligation or responsibility to honor others' requests. E.R.O.I. is a fairly new organization and is working to perfect their organization and delegation of functions. I am glad my supervisor was always available and willing to listen, discuss, and orient me about the way to deal with different situations! I think my experience as an ALP E.R.O.I. intern helped me to get a better view of the inside of institutions. It also made me think a lot about how their potentials are affected by non-subdued organizational problems and personal limitations.”
—2004-2005 Eastman Rochester Organ Initiative Intern
"My internship with Mercury Opera Rochester has been an experience where I have gained tools and knowledge that will assist me over the course of my musical career. From promotion to backstage logistics of putting on a full opera in Eastman Theater, I have been right in the thick of what it means to run and sustain a professional opera company. As a horn player, much of my training has been in the orchestral and chamber music world. This internship has been an eye opening experience to another side of music. Also, being the assistant to the Executive Director has shown me exactly how much work one has to put into getting a three hour opera to run smoothly. This internship was a fantastic opportunity to discover the 'back story' of the opera world."
—2007-2008 Mercury Opera Rochester Intern
"What a thrilling experience it was to work for an opera company! As an intern, I had several projects throughout the year, including the creation of “supertitles” for Mercury’s first production, L’Amico Fritz. I also updated mailing lists, took down monthly Board meeting minutes, catalogued previous Opera Rochester paraphernalia (articles, photos, etc.), and helped systematize the company’s collection of costumes. It still amazes me the amount of work Executive Director Kristen Kessler does to keep everything up and running. Working for Mercury has enabled me to see a different perspective of what goes on “behind the scenes.” It has been such a pleasure to see first-hand the collaborative effort that has made Mercury’s first season such a success. I highly recommend this internship for someone who wants to experience the many different aspects of an arts organization."
—2005-2006 Mercury Opera Rochester Intern
"Working with Mercury Opera Rochester has been a great experience. I've greatly enjoyed interning with a company in its first year of bringing professional opera to the community. The only thing better than seeing what it takes to run an opera company is helping to make that happen. From development and artistic operations, to streamlining archival materials, I've been able to get a real sense of what it takes to get a company off the ground. It's been a pleasure to work with the Executive Director and make an impact on this company. Collaborating with the Board of Directors and artistic staff has also been valuable and insightful."
—2005-2006 Mercury Opera Rochester Intern
“My internship with Jim Doser, music supervisor of the Penfield School District, provided me with a wide variety of duties where I could experience different areas of the public school administrative processes. I was very fortunate to have the opportunity to work on such projects as the Penfield Music Commission Project, the Penfield Jazz Series, the Penfield/Wegman’s Wind Ensemble Composition Contest, and the recording and distribution of all winter concerts performed at Penfield High School. I was an integral part of transforming the Penfield Music Club into a non-profit organization. I also organized and researched new avenues of fundraising, attended and presented at board meetings, and working closely with administrators on budgeting and staffing for the 2006-2007 school year. Being from out of state, this internship has given me insight to New York State public school music system, and it has benefited me greatly.”
"My internship with Publick Musick was a very rewarding experience. In a short period of time, I researched marketing opportunities, collaborated on website design and contacted businesses to sell our CDs. What made this internship unique was that I was part of a very small creative team and mostly worked independently. My input was highly valued, and altogether the internship was a wonderful learning opportunity!"
—2005-2006 Publick Musick Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Artistic Operations
"An internship in the Artistic Operations department of the RPO offers an in-depth look at the behind-the-scenes details that go into nearly every performance by the orchestra. Interns are responsible for executing contracts, and booking travel and lodging for guest artists, as well as making sure things run smoothly during their performances. This includes setting up the dressing rooms and sometimes purchasing any extra commodities listed in their contracts. Additionally, there is the shopping aspect of the job. Here the intern will research the best value and often make the trip out of the office to buy the item. I was sent out this semester to purchase everything from booster seats, earplugs, trashcans to be used as percussion instruments, and eggs for its director. Preparation for the Holiday Pops concert is another large aspect of the internship, starting as early as October. This year, five choral scores needed to be duplicated, sorted and distributed to over 200 high school students. Interns are also involved in selecting the students and chaperoning the rehearsals. There is certainly a fair amount of office work in the Artistic Operations internship, mostly copying and mailing orchestra schedules, or duplicating and organizing contracts for guest artists. The Director of Artistic Operations also assigned me two long-term research projects, looking into summer festivals and other orchestras’ financial status with their performance hall.”
—2007-2008 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
"As an intern for the Artistic Operations Department of the Rochester Philharmonic, I am involved with both the creative world of artistic planning and the reality of concert logistics. During my internship, I have chaperoned a 170-voice high school choir for our holiday pops series, worked with contract and travel booking for guest artists, and gained an understanding of what must take place to support the artists performing on stage. Probably my favorite part of this internship is the opportunity to work various concert events during the year—as a music student it’s fun to hear the finished product from the stage, and as an aspiring professional it gives me a realistic view of life as an orchestral musician.”
—2006-2007 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
"Working for the RPO Artistic Operations Department has been an extremely significant and enlightening experience. I’ve had the opportunity to do a wide variety and range of tasks both in the office and at the concerts themselves; from simple things like mailing musicians’ schedules and fetching water for conductors/soloists all the way up to drafting contracts for big-name guest artists and taking charge of a 200 person high school choir (for six concerts in a row!) More importantly, as someone who’s interested in an orchestral job, I’ve loved being behind the scenes and getting to observe and talk to the musicians to see what their daily work lives are like and what issues they face. They are an incredibly friendly community and have a great relationship with the staff and with each other. This internship is the ultimate course on “Realities of Orchestral Life.”
—2005-2006 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
"My experience as an RPO Artistic Operations Intern was definitely the highlight of my life as an Eastman student! Through the undertaking of a variety of tasks in the office ranging from liaising with artist management organizations and preparing guest artist contracts, to helping the Music Director in his research to put together a thematic program, I have gained invaluable and practical knowledge of the administrative side of an orchestra. Working backstage during RPO concerts has also given me the opportunity to meet and interact with soloists, conductors and RPO musicians. I will always treasure these experiences, which have sharpened my communication skills and enabled me to build lasting relationships with the friendly RPO staff that I learned so much from!"
—2005-2006 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
"The Production and Artistic Operations Intern at the RPO is a position that is made up of many different duties. My responsibilities ranged from reading, marking and sending contracts, as well as distributing them around the office, to actually running an entire RPO concert as the operations manager. Being in such a position with the orchestra it was amazing to see what really goes on with an organization such as this. The action on stage is only a small piece in a large sculpture. The job was never boring or tedious, because it served the right balance of work. One of the highlights of the job definitely is to meet with the guest artists, get to know them and experience what their life is like for a short while, during their stay with the orchestra."
—2004-2005 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
“This past year I have gained invaluable experience as an intern in the RPO Artistic Operations department. The department handles everything relating to guest artists…and works closely with the conductors, stage crew, house manager, librarian and personnel manager at all times. This interaction has greatly enhanced my communication skills, and has taught me what is needed to keep musicians on stage. I am grateful for the experience I have gained here, and am excited about applying these skills in the future!”
—2003-2004 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
“The [RPO Artistic Operations] internship offers a variety of tasks, from negotiating contracts for guest artists to concert production… During the course of the internship, you will: learn about the function of a non-profit organization and the role that each person and department plays in creating a successful performance; learn how to use and update an electronic database to manage information about guest artists; attend staff meetings and work face-to-face with people from the Executive Department; and, if you work backstage during concerts, get the chance to meet most of the RPO musicians, make future contacts, and talk to the Orchestral Personnel Manager who can tell you about his experience with the orchestra or might call you for a gig!"
—2003-2004 RPO Artistic Operations Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Development
"The Development Internship at the RPO was a wonderful opportunity for me to survey the fundraising efforts of a mid-sized arts organization. In this position, I worked with several personnel to plan, coordinate, and execute a variety of activities relating to individual giving, corporate giving, grants, and general donor relations. Some of my specific tasks included compiling materials for stewardship of corporate donors, conducting research of potential major givers, and composing letters to address the concerns of various constituents. In this position, my research and writing skills have grown, and I have gained new skills in using database software. As a result of this internship, I have had the chance to witness the multitude of ways in which a symphony orchestra goes about closing the budget gap through development and fundraising. The general philosophies and specific skills that I learned will be useful to me throughout my career as an artist and arts administrator."
—2004-2005 RPO Development Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Education and Outreach
"As an intern with the Rochester Philharmonic orchestra’s Education and Outreach Department I served as an integral part of the Department and had a wide variety of responsibilities and tasks to complete. I created Curriculum guides and Activity booklets for the Education programs, worked to set up a database for concert registrations, and assisted with scheduling and confirming school attendance for the various concert series. I also had the opportunity to present the RPO Instrument Petting Zoo to three different groups of City School District programs. This interaction with children and providing them with educational opportunities has been some of the most rewarding work I have done during my internship. My first-hand experiences working for a non-profit arts organization—including being trusted with “real-life” tasks—provided not only the opportunity to take part in every aspect of presenting a successful educational concert series, but added to my education at Eastman. The entire experience has served to enhance my skills and potential for success as a musician."
—2007-2008 RPO Education and Outreach Intern
"My experience within the Education and Outreach Department of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been one of the most valuable during my time at Eastman. This internship has given me a unique understanding of the orchestral world, one that I wouldn’t have otherwise received from my normal coursework. In addition, the work I did was quite meaningful and even gave me an opportunity to use what I’ve learned in my music education classes in a creative way. For instance, I wrote a packet of lesson plans and composer biographies that were sent to teachers throughout the county as preparation for their students, who would later be attending the Primary Grades Concerts at Eastman Theater. Other duties included uploading their database, making phone calls, attending meetings, preparing for upcoming educational concerts, attending those concerts, and even helping out at an instrument petting zoo. Through the projects I worked on and the events I attended, I gained a first-hand account of all the details and organization involved in putting together a concert series, or educational event. My supervisor at the RPO was especially informative and an excellent resource - I really got to experience the dynamic of working within a well organized and professional orchestral office setting, and witness the many challenges and rewards of being in an Education and Outreach Department. I highly recommend this internship to everyone!"
—2006-2007 RPO Education and Outreach Intern
"My time at Education and Outreach department was proven to be a valuable one. I had the opportunity to participate in many different activities that interested me as a music educator. Through my experience working for this department, I gained a larger view of arts educational programs and how they should be organized. I also enjoyed meeting and talking with musicians, children, parents and teachers. Some of the memorable things I did as an inter intern were: 1) designed the activity booklet for concerts such as orKIDstra, 2) helped in running and organizing Intermediate concerts, and 3) put together a database of registrations for Tiny Tots Concerts."
—2005-2006 RPO Education and Outreach Intern
“I interned with Adrienne Valencia, Director of Education and Outreach for the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra. I was exposed to many different professional environments…and learned valuable skills for interacting with RPO customers, teaching children of various ages about music in an engaging way, organizing large concert crowds, and working in an office environment. I definitely feel like I've grown through the internship experience. As my responsibilities increased, I learned how to problem-solve and take more initiative in making important decisions. I was also given the opportunity to explore my own interest in the grant-writing process and was allowed to revise a grant proposal for a program taking place in the next season…”
—2003-2004 RPO Education and Outreach Intern
“ The projects I worked on [as an RPO Education and Outreach Intern] can be broken down into three categories. First, I prepared material for concerts such as an activity booklet for an OrKIDStra concert and a teachers’ guide for a Tiny Tots concert. Second, I was involved in “book-keeping”-oriented projects such as registering school groups for concerts and sending confirmation letters. Finally, I worked on performance projects; not only did I help usher at some RPO concert events, but I also helped present several musical “petting zoos” in the course of the year. This internship also had many opportunities for observation; I was able to attend RPO concerts aimed at different age groups, as well as smaller ensemble or artist-in-residence programs that were sponsored by the RPO.”
—2003-2004 RPO Education and Outreach Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Marketing
"Working with Amy Brondyke in the Marketing & PR Department of the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra has been an incredible experience! While there were some tasks specifically delegated to the intern, such as processing charity requests, updating the fax sheet, scheduling interviews with guest artists and maintaining an archive of press coverage and concert files, there were also many opportunities to be creative. As my internship progressed, I was responsible for an increasing number of press releases and media advisories for each of the RPO series concerts. While at the RPO, I had the chance to work on my editing skills by paring down several of the guest artists’ bios in the book “Bravo!” Since I have some web experience, I also spent time formatting the information in “Bravo!” Amy made sure to include me in as many exciting projects as possible. One particularly memorable example was when she went to Time-Warner to produce two commercials for The Nutcracker. Amy invited me along for the day and welcomed my input. This internship has truly been an invaluable learning experience for me. I would highly recommend it to all ALP students. My time with Amy and the RPO has made me eager to pursue a full-time career in arts administration!"
—2005-2006 RPO Marketing and Public Relations Intern
"My internship in the Marketing and Public Relations Department with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra was a fantastic experience that provided a window into the day-to-day administrative and behind the scenes operations of the orchestra. In addition to basic work such as copying, keeping track of media coverage, and handling requests for ticket donations, I was given some more interesting responsibilities such as coordinating interviews with guest artists, writing biographies for upcoming performers, and writing press releases. Amy made sure that I was having a meaningful experience and I always felt like a member of the team. I would encourage others to look at the real world benefits an internship with an arts organization provides even if future career ambitions have little to do with direct administration work."
—2004-2005 RPO Marketing and Public Relations Intern
“The Marketing and PR internship at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra offers the opportunity to work in a fast-paced environment at a major cultural organization. The intern is given several projects for which s/he is primarily responsible, as well as tasks relating to larger projects involving other staff members. Some duties must be performed throughout the entire period of employment (such as maintaining files on all newspaper ads and clippings, or organizing WXXI interviews for guest soloists and conductors) while other duties arise out of specific one-time-only needs (such as collecting biographical information on next season's soloists to send to the media). Amy Brondyke makes a point of giving some assignments that speak to the intern's particular skills and interests. For example, I was given the chance to use my analytical skills and knowledge of statistics to evaluate certain advertising and pricing decisions, and to make recommendations based on my analysis. The intern also becomes familiar with various software programs and learns how to update information online.
“In sum, I found a wealth of opportunity by working in this department at the RPO. In addition to gaining specific skills, I learned first-hand the importance of 1) understanding the market and 2) interacting with the market, in building a successful (both financially and artistically) symphony orchestra. I highly recommend this internship to all ALP students.”
—2003-2004 RPO Marketing and Public Relations Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Public Relations
“The public relations internship at the RPO has been an incredible learning experience, showing me all that goes on behind the scenes at a professional orchestra. My main duties included writing press releases, tracking media coverage of RPO events, maintaining the media board in the box office, and handling charity requests for RPO tickets. This internship was rarely busywork because Amy Blum always kept me on my toes with interesting and challenging projects. I have come to appreciate how important a good PR manager is for an arts organization, and I hope to make PR work part of my career in the future.”
—2007-2008 RPO Public Relations Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra -- Special Events and Volunteer Support
"My RPO Volunteer and Special Events internship gave me the opportunity to become a part of organizing several big events like RPO’s 85th Anniversary Red Carpet Day, Volunteer Enrichment nights, and the RPO Showhouse. I recruited volunteers through calling, e-mailing, and making publications, etc. Since I had to coordinate with hundreds of volunteers, I became more organized in order to keep track of every single person I contacted. By attending weekly staff meetings, I learned how staff works together to run the organization. I got the sense of how each department takes care of their own professional areas and produces a final product as a team. I learned how to work with co-workers, volunteers, and patrons. I became more organized and active in running events, even for my personal events, from the combination of various skills from this internship."
—2007-2008 RPO Special Events and Volunteer Support Intern
"My internship with the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Special Events and Volunteer Support Department provided me with a truly wide variety of duties where I could experience many areas of the administrative process. Within my two main areas of volunteer scheduling and special event planning, I performed quite a bit of the standard office work that most interns do, including copying, mailing, making phone calls, and sometimes running a few errands. It is important to recognize that these tasks which may seem mundane to some, are really vital to keeping the department running smoothly. Not all of my work was small tasks. I was presented with the responsibility of researching other local golf tournaments and putting together a short presentation on possible ways the RPO could improve their golf tournament (both in quality and in the amount of funds raised)."
—2004-2005 RPO Special Events and Volunteer Support Intern
“Working at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra’s Volunteer and Special Events Office shows just how important community support is to a smaller orchestra. My experience consisted of witnessing and working on the long-range planning required for major fundraising events, specifically the RPO Symphony Showhouse and the RPO’s Golf Tournament. In addition, I conceived and generated a monthly e-newsletter designed specifically for RPO volunteers to convey information, needs, encouragement and good news. In the spring, I planned and coordinated the RPO’s annual Volunteer Recognition Event and was entirely responsible for the implementation of the project. By attending weekly development meetings, I was able to observe first-hand the work required to achieve fiscal success for the orchestra, both through fundraising and through volunteer support.”
—2003-2004 RPO Special Events and Volunteer Support Intern
Rochester Philharmonic Youth Orchestra
"My internship with the RPYO taught me to work independently and efficiently on any project that I was given. Most of my internship involved office work which included sending mailers, creating tables for organizing information and pricing items for the RPYO Boutique. It can get tedious to do this work for five hours at a time, but my intern host supervisor was kind enough to always allow me to listen to my iPod which sped up my work and made me more attentive. I was also given the task of writing program notes and press releases which was a new experience for me. This provided me the opportunity to practice my writing skills as well as hone my research skills at the library. One of the greatest challenges I had was coaching a section of the RPYO for their Shostakovich Symphony 5 concert, but in the end this was the most rewarding part of my internship. I was also able to be of help to its music director by attending the dress rehearsal and acting as his ears in the hall for balance purposes. I appreciate all of the knowledge and experience that I have gained from being an ALP intern and I would definitely do it again if I had the chance. "
—2007-2008 RPYO Intern
"Working with the RPYO has truly been an eye-opening experience on many levels. As a performer, one does not always conceive of the amount of preparation and work that goes into running an ensemble and preparing for concerts and events. As a music educator, it has been a tremendously fulfilling experience to see the high level of artistry and commitment amongst the students in the ensemble and, especially, to see the dedication and support of the parents. As an arts administrator who is still “learning the ropes,” the RPYO is a wonderful model of a tightly run, successful organization that has great standing, quality, and prestige in the community. This organization has a dedicated and caring board of professionals from many disciplines. I have always been amazed at how much activity goes on at the RPYO on a daily basis and how well everything comes together throughout their very busy season. It has been a pleasure working with them, and I would encourage any student (performance or education majors, graduate or undergraduate) to work with this group."
—2005-2006 RPYO Intern
“Working as an intern at Sampler Records taught me how to dive into unfamiliar tasks. For example, one of my main jobs for the first half of the spring semester was to interview the performers for Sampler Record's annual Irish Concert. I was responsible for writing many different types of press releases and figuring out when, and in what format, to send them to the press. I had never dealt with the press before, so it was very satisfying to call important media contacts and see the results in print. In addition, I assisted at concert rehearsals where I got to meet various folk artists. Although I had never worked retail before, I was responsible for taking inventory and restocking recordings, and even selling recordings at a few concerts (for which I was given free admission). I also wrote reviews and press releases for several new CD's that were submitted to Sampler Records, Ltd. for review. Overall, the internship required a lot of initiative and independent work—something that worked very well for me since I had flexible hours and could work at ease without the pressure of someone watching over my shoulder.”
—2003-2004 Sampler Records Intern
"Looking for a practical application of your music history knowledge? The internship at WXXI includes programming and managing the library—certainly one of the best ways to learn composers and time periods for me. The things I learned in music history were reinforced everyday on the job (and quite a bit that I missed in music history was reviewed). I also learned that radio is yet another way to make a living in music. That diversification of one’s skill set is the central aspect of the Arts Leadership Program. With this set of skills in addition to performing and teaching, I feel confident that I can be an invaluable asset to whatever community I land in. And it is community that is the other strength of this internship. By coordinating the ticket giveaways, I have interacted with the leaders of numerous arts organizations in Rochester. WXXI is truly a radio station for the arts programs in this community and serves as a central point for them to come together."
—2007-2008 WXXI Intern
"My internship experience at WXXI has been nothing short of fantastic. Julia Figueras is a driven supervisor who quite simply knows her stuff. The experience has been an expansion of my music and world history education, an introduction to composers and performers I had never heard, a prime example of establishing and nurturing a healthy relationship with community arts organizations, an opening of new career possibilities, and an opportunity to meet and interact with nationally known artists. Best of all, though, is the respect, candor, and honesty with which I am treated. In short, on the surface, a WXXI internship is indeed learning the ropes of the radio business. But any intern would soon discover that it is also about the importance of and the maintenance of the interconnected web of arts organizations--and the people who run them--that keeps the arts thriving in a community, state, region, and nation."
—2006-2007 WXXI Intern
"Interns working with WXXI Music Director Julia Figueras will have much to learn from her experiences in the classical music radio business, as well as her impressive knowledge of music from a wide variety of genres. In addition to handling on-air ticket giveaways, I also took care of a huge recording library, which included listening to new CDs and offering my opinions of whether they should be included in the collection. I also programmed two radio shows and researched for special programs-- such as a program that featured composers and performers associated with the city of Rochester-- a truly memorable project! I learned about PR/Marketing and many other office skills that will surely prove to be valuable, even if I was never to work in a radio station again. Every now and then the Music Director would interview visiting performers and composers. This year Leila Josefowicz, Anne Akiko Meyers, Libby Larsen and Jon Nakamatsu visited the station, and the opportunity to interact with these musicians was a real treat!"
—2005-2006 WXXI Intern
"I highly recommend the Assistant to the Music Director internship with WXXI. As an intern, you work with Julia Figueras, Music Director and Midday Host of WXXI FM Classical91.5. The internship at WXXI opens your eyes to the world of music.As a musician, there are so many different and exciting career paths one can choose. Professions including radio, music business,and sound recording are only a few of the many possibilities.The intern’s primary obligations include organizing ticket giveaways, sifting through press releases, logging and shelving new resources into the music library, maintaining the library’s organization, and most importantly serving as a liaison to WXXI.In working at WXXI, I have gained several transferable skills and experiences that will certainly help me as a music educator:networking, the expansion of my communication and organization skills, the exposure to press releases and effective promotion media, the development of effective music librarian skills, organization of fundraising, increasing my repertoire, and of course gaining familiarity with current technology."
—2004-2005 WXXI Intern
“The music director internship at WXXI offers many opportunities. You will work one-on-one with Julia Figueras, music director at WXXI, who is an excellent source of information about radio, classical music, music business, aesthetic, etc. You will get to know the music libraries at the station and the electronic database and will work closely with related arts institutions to handle ticket giveaways, press releases, and promotions. Highly motivated interns may also research special projects for the announcers, investigate other parts of the station (fund drives, television, am radio, etc.), assist with interview questions, observe live broadcasts and recording/editing sessions, and even program some of your own music. It is an internship with seemingly endless possibilities and a great option if you are looking to intern with a non-profit organization other than a symphony orchestra.”
—2003-2004 WXXI Intern
"My experience as an intern with Young Audiences of Rochester was one of the greatest opportunities I've had as an Eastman student. The staff at YAR went well out of their way to include me as a member of their team and to ensure that my overall experience was a positive, challenging, and enriching one. As an intern, I took on creative projects, as well as researched past artists and performed other database entry tasks. I also had the opportunity to visit a variety of schools and sit in on programming meetings, observe arts-in-education programs and culminating events from specific residencies in the classroom, in addition to assisting with Kaleidoscope, YAR's annual fundraising event. Overall, this was a valuable experience, both from an administrative and an educational standpoint."
—2007-2008 Young Audiences of Rochester Intern
"At Young Audiences I was able to learn about a variety of areas. For our fall Showcase event I worked with spreadsheets and the database to track attendance and other information. After Showcase, another intern and I prepared a report on the data from 2003 compared to other years and other chapters that will help YA of Rochester make the Showcase more effective. Towards the end of the semester I began work on soliciting and cataloging items for our annual “Kaleidoscope” auction/fundraiser. I was also responsible for sending acknowledgement letters as soon as donations were received. I also wrote some mini-press releases for the news section of our website and learned how to add them to the web. For the spring semester, my work on the auction items intensified and kept me pretty busy. I attended more planning meetings and went to schools to see our artists in action. Now that Kaleidoscope is over, my new assignments are less about development and more focused on arts in education. I am working on a research/brainstorming project about possible multicultural arts initiatives that would include Rochester’s sister-cities and be eligible for certain grants and helping to update the resource guide for next year."
—2005-2006 Young Audiences of Rochester Intern
"My internship at Young Audiences of Rochester has been a very enjoyable experience. Last summer YA had a number of staff position shifts, and for a few months of the fall, it was necessary to fill in some gaps and help everyone get organized. There have been mundane tasks, such as filing, entering names into the database, and helping with large mailings, but I have also had a hand in a number of large projects. For example, this spring YA put on Kaleidoscope, a huge fund-raising event which included a banquet, concert, live auction, silent auction, and raffle. I was in charge of soliciting program ads from local businesses, typing all the information for the program, as well as keeping records of the auction items. Often I had several tasks going on at once, with several people to answer to. I enjoyed the variety of activities and projects and thrived on the responsibility of working independently and learning to multi-task very efficiently."
—2004-2005 Young Audiences of Rochester Intern
"The Arts-in-Education Internship at Young Audiences of Rochester offers a tremendous variety of skills and projects for the intern. Perhaps the greatest assets of the internship is the independence you have in working on assigned projects. The staff at Young Audiences trusts that the intern is fully capable of working as an independent member of the office staff. I coordinated audits for educational programs and helped re-write the resource guide that is given to schools during the summer. I also helped with various tasks related to the artist showcase event in the fall and the fundraising event in the spring. Overall, the strengths of the internships were having a wide variety of tasks and always having something new to work on."
—2004-2005 Arts in Education Intern
“Young Audiences of Rochester provides the intern with the opportunity to learn about the not-for-profit world of arts-in-education. YAR is a local [chapter] of a nationwide network of Young Audiences; yet it’s small size belies the scope of its work. The personable staff is always available to answer questions, and the workload is well-balanced and shared by everyone. The intern is given several choices for involvement and projects may be selected depending on the intern’s interests and skills. The intern will benefit most from the experience with YAR if he/she shares the vision of arts-in-education and, like the staff, artists, and volunteers, has a passion for teaching children.”
—2003-2004 Young Audiences of Rochester Intern