ROCHESTER, N.Y.-Winning a position within a professional orchestra is the goal of many instrumental music performance majors. But what happens after they win? Are expectations among today’s students comparable to expectations from five, 10, or 20 years ago? Do today’s professionals feel they were adequately prepared to deal with the realities of working as a professional orchestral musician?
An eight-member panel of professionals and graduate students will compare and contrast their answers to these questions and discuss their viewpoints during a five-day Polyphonic.org virtual discussion panel beginning May 15.
Designed as a dynamic, interactive environment, Polyphonic.org visitors can interact with the panelists by sharing their own observations and posing questions to panelists by posting comments throughout the duration of the discussion (registration is required to post comments). Polyphonic.org Senior Editor and Research Principal Drew McManus will moderate the online discussion utilizing an exclusive online format designed especially for the site.
Joining McManus on the panel are:
Douglas Fisher, Bassoon, Columbus Symphony Orchestra and President, Central Ohio Federation of Musicians, Local 103, AFM
Matt Fritz, graduate student, orchestral conducting, Eastman School of Music
Timothy Judd, Violin, Richmond Symphony Orchestra and RSO ROPA delegate, 2000
Elizabeth Meyers, Viola, graduate, Eastman School of Music
James Nickel, Assistant Principal Horn, Dallas Symphony and ISCOM Member at Large
Adam Pijanowski, graduate student, tuba performance, Eastman School of Music
Samuel Thompson, Violin, experienced musician and substitute violinist, San Antonio Symphony
James Undercofler, outgoing Dean, Eastman School of Music, newly-designated President and CEO, Philadelphia Orchestra
To take part in the discussion, visitors to the site can click the "Discussion Panel" graphic found on the home page of Polyphonic.org. Opening remarks and subsequent contributions by panelists as well as registered members’ comments will appear throughout the week.
What: "Great Expectations," a Virtual Discussion Panel on Polyphonic.org
When: May 15 – 19
Where: www.Polyphonic.org
Launched in April 2006, Polyphonic.org is a comprehensive online resource dedicated to professional orchestral musicians. The site offers a range of professional development services and informational resources to help career musicians realize professional growth, personal fulfillment, career advancement, job satisfaction, better participate in their organizations, and become effective stakeholders in their respective ensemble. The site includes news, feature articles and interviews-some in streaming video format-on topics such as professional development, entrepreneurship, the business of orchestras, and health and injury prevention. Also found on the site are profiles of American orchestras featuring exclusive interviews with their artistic and executive leaders, daily news feeds from ArtsJournal.com, portals to other websites relating to the interests of orchestral musicians, interactive discussion features, and the ability to contribute articles and comments.
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