Sigma Alpha Iota

sai-national.org • SPRING 2018 • PAN PIPES 11 MUSIC NOTES O ver the summer, I had the extraordinary opportunity of participating in Essentials of Orchestra Management, a ten day immersive seminar hosted by the League of American Orchestras. With the help of a Professional Development Grant from SAI Philanthropies, Inc., I traveled to Los Angeles, CA where I would meet 30 other early to mid-career arts administrators from all over the country and a faculty of experienced leaders in the orchestra field. I began each morning with a cup of coffee and a walk to the ornton School of Music on the beautiful campus of the University of Southern California, accompanied by many of my fellow Essentials participants. Each class day consisted of presentations by our faculty and guest speakers on topics such as Artistic Planning, Community Engagement, Communication, Fundraising and Development, and Advocacy. In addition to hearing from our faculty of current and past Executive Directors, we also engaged with musicians from the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra and the Los Angeles Philharmonic who shared stories and insight about their careers as performers. Two evenings were spent at the Hollywood Bowl, observing the innovative ways the Los Angeles Philharmonic connects with their audiences and enjoying the incredible performances. e seminar culminated in a group role playing exercise in which we each had to take on the role of a senior leadership team member of a fictional orchestra. One of my personal goals for my participation in Essentials was to come away with a deeper understanding of the areas of orchestral administration that I am least experienced in, and this exercise certainly helped build that stronger foundation. My work experience and interest lies in Artistic Operations, so having to put myself in the shoes of an Education and Community Engagement director of an orchestra was a tough but exciting challenge. A highlight of Essentials was attending the final concert of the National Take a Stand Festival at Walt Disney Concert Hall, conducted by omas Wilkins and Gustavo Dudamel. is festival brings students from El Sistema inspired music programs across the United States together for a week of world-class instruction with musicians of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. El Sistema music programs, which were originally founded in Venezuela, empower underserved youth and have a strong message of social justice through music education. Witnessing the energy and excitement that conductors Dudamel and Wilkins brought to the stage was a moment I will not soon forget. Class sessions and concerts were incredibly valuable to me, and equally as valuable was the wealth of knowledge that I gained from my peers. My fellow Essentials participants brought experience and wisdom, while daring to challenge the status quo and allowing themselves to be vulnerable. I consider myself fortunate to have learned just as much from them as I did from the Essentials faculty. One of the greatest takeaways from my participation in the seminar was a feeling of hope for the future of orchestras; if these passionate young leaders are out there sharing their ideas, then the future looks bright! Carrie Graham is currently the Manager of Artistic Planning at the Charlotte Symphony and a member of the Charlotte Alumnae Chapter. She has previously held positions at the Richmond Symphony, Aspen Music Festival and School, and an internship at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. The Essentials of Orchestra Management Participants of Essentials of Orchestra Management and faculty of the Thornton School of Music with Thomas Wilkins.

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