ROCHESTER, N.Y. — In April 2006, the Eastman School of Music’s Institute for Music Leadership launched something brand-new: Polyphonic.org, a professional development website for orchestra musicians.
In April 2007, as it celebrates its first anniversary, Polyphonic.org is emerging as an innovative resource for information on orchestra life. It has created a network and a sense of community out of the contrasting lines of contemporary musical life.
Polyphonic.org continues to evolve. This month Polyphonic Backstage — a new interactive feature enabling conversation about the subjects that interest orchestra musicians most — was launched. Powered by vBulletin, Polyphonic Backstage offers opportunities for open discussions in eight different categories, for professional networking, and for creating polls.
Check this exciting new feature by logging on to www.polyphonic.org and clicking the orange “Backstage” tag on the homepage.
“I’m happy to announce the first anniversary of Polyphonic.org,” says editor in chief Ramon Ricker, “and even happier to report on a year of continuous growth and success. When the Eastman School of Music and the Institute for Music Leadership launched Polyphonic.org in April 2006, our goal was to become ‘the orchestra musician’s companion.’ But we didn’t realize how quickly the site would take off and develop. Praise from our growing list of registered users tells us we’re on the right track!”
The word “polyphonic” describes music with several independent, contrasting parts sounding together harmoniously. Polyphonic.org is a home for many independent voices in the world of today’s orchestral musician, coming together to enhance the professional development and broaden the perspectives of musicians in North American symphony orchestras and other musical arts organizations.
The site’s many features include:
- Streaming video interviews with composer and award-winning writer Greg Sandow and such progressive musicians as Gloria DiPasquale, Fergus McWilliams, Robert Wagner, and Laura Brownell.
- Orchestra Spotlights: comprehensive profiles of orchestras in San Francisco, Milwaukee, Nashville, Washington, D.C., and more.
- Virtual Discussion Panels with musicians and business experts, on such topics as diversity among orchestra musicians, the auditioning process, contemporary composers, negotiations, and much more
- A dynamic interface allowing visitors to participate directly by contributing comments about what they read, and daily news feeds from ArtsJournal.com
- The new Polyphonic Backstage enabling conversation among registered users
Among Polyphonic.org’s achievements are: nearly 1,000 registered users in less than one year; a great variety of solid, well-presented content; opportunity for dialogue on important issues; and creation of an online community of orchestra professionals.
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