OnCampus Blog

Spotlight: Alan Pierson, Artistic Director of Alarm Will Sound

The Institute for Music Leadership (IML) at the Eastman School of Music recently interviewed Alan Pierson, the Artistic Director of Alarm Will Sound.  In the interview, Pierson talks about his path as a young conductor and provides some great advice for other young musicians who are interested in starting their own ensembles.  Read the spotlight[…]

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Modern Day Committee Do’s and Don’ts

When you land that orchestra job, and after you have been in it a few years, you may find yourself being elected to the Orchestra Committee. This committee represents the views of the musicians and interacts with the orchestra’s management. In addition, during contract negotiation years it can serve as the negotiating committee. It’s the[…]

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Why Not Just Ask?

What do people want when they come to a classical music concert? Why don’t we just ask them? This article explores the reactions of one audience member relatively unfamiliar with classical music and the lessons we can learn about this subset of concertgoers in general.

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Opportunity: Essentials of Orchestra Management 10-day Program

For those among our readers who might be interested in learning more about orchestra operations, check out this exciting opportunity from the League of American Orchestras: Essentials of Orchestra Management February 4-13, 2014 – New York City Essentials of Orchestra Management is a ten-day journey that will prepare you for the challenges orchestras are facing[…]

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Making the Music Happen: Reflections on a Summer Internship

Earlier in June, I posted a blog about my initial experiences as an intern with the Midsummer’s Music chamber music festival in Door County, Wisconsin, and how the events of the first week alone caused me to view the process of organizing and presenting concerts from a fresh perspective. Now, six weeks, twenty-five concerts, and[…]

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Announcing Our 2013-2014 Video Bloggers!

We are thrilled to announce the 2013-2014 Polyphonic OnCampus Video Bloggers!  Thank you to all those who expressed interest in the program, and for all those that helped spread the word about this opportunity!  This diverse group of young musicians will be uploading a video blog every two weeks for a year starting in September[…]

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Creating “New Categories” in Classical Music

In a recent Harvard Business Review blog post, Eddie Yoon suggests the need for “category creation” in classical music – creating innovative presentations of classical music that engage 21st century audiences.  He cites the Piano Guys as an example of a group that has created a new category, one which he describes as “Fun, breakthrough[…]

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The Two-Way Street: On being a Composer-Performer

Whenever I tell someone I’m a musician, their first response is almost always to ask what I play. “Oh,” I reply, “I’m actually a composer.” And then, almost as an afterthought, “But I also play bassoon.” The impression is that I’m a composer first, a bassoonist a far distant second. Nothing could be further from[…]

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Friday Fun: Saxophones Perform “Rite of Spring” from Memory!

The Eastman Saxophone Project is a great example of an “alternative” ensemble that is finding an exciting niche in the music world.  The group embodies several important qualities represented by successful alternative ensembles – excellence, innovation, and uniqueness – and students in the ensemble are learning new ways to present classical music and engage their[…]

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An Experiment in Preparing for an Audition

In her latest video blog, harpist Meghan Caulkett describes her preparations for an upcoming audition and how she is experimenting with a different approach.  Enjoy!

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1
Spotlight: Alan Pierson, Artistic Director of Alarm Will Sound
2
Modern Day Committee Do’s and Don’ts
3
Why Not Just Ask?
4
Opportunity: Essentials of Orchestra Management 10-day Program
5
Making the Music Happen: Reflections on a Summer Internship
6
Announcing Our 2013-2014 Video Bloggers!
7
Creating “New Categories” in Classical Music
8
The Two-Way Street: On being a Composer-Performer
9
Friday Fun: Saxophones Perform “Rite of Spring” from Memory!
10
An Experiment in Preparing for an Audition