Now comes this article from the New York Times which talks about a new Juilliard program to make graduates effective outreach participants as well as top orchestral players. This is an excellent idea in theory, but I'd love to see a program that could be offered to currently employed or post-graduate musicians as well. It's something that we really need to leverage for greater connection with our audiences.

My problem with this article: the best player doesn't get the job, at least that's what is suggested in the article's first three paragraphs. Hiring shouldn't solely rely upon one's verbal skills or ability to help fund-raising efforts, should it? I'd rather see a program to train new hires in how to do outreach than make it a prerequisite to hiring which has more import than one's standard of musicianship and playing.

I also believe it to be a better choice to train the best musician instead of hiring someone for their PR skills.

I find the article about the new Juilliard program amusing. Has anyone at Juilliard taught in public schools recently? I am a New England Conservatory graduate and a substitute for the Louisville Orchestra. However, my day job is teaching string orchestra in 5 public schools every week (none have a performing arts focus). I would choose a full-time orchestra gig in a small city any day over the stress and lack of fulfillment of students who don't want to learn.

Goodluck to Juilliard in getting anyone to signup for this program!

I didn't get that from the article. What I got was the concept of hiring someone who will not only be an asset to the orchestra but will also be an asset to the community as well. I think that the idea of training someone not only to be the best musician that they can be but to also be a better educator and inspiration to the surrounding schools and community is a great idea.
Also those ties will help build a larger audience. I have had students that have come to my orchestra concerts because I was playing in them when that normally wouldn't have attended, and I have done the same with past teachers.

I hope the program succeeds so that it could be opened up and maybe modeled elsewhere to the currently employed and post grad. musicians.

I see your point. The first time I read the article I felt that getting more artists into becoming public school music teachers was the goal. If the Juilliard program wants to create and maintain relationships between artists in schools, more power to them. We certainly need to grow our audiences and keep our communities interested in the arts. I guess I misunderstood Juilliard's mission.

quote:

I guess I misunderstood Juilliard's mission.

That's the main problem: the article was poorly written. I'd gather that it might have been a rush job done with a fresh press release from Juilliard in hand...