Lifestyle of an orchestra Member ?
Question by La Bella Senorita: Lifestyle of an orchestra Member ?
Lifestyle of an orchestra member ?
Can anyone describe to me life as a professional violinist in a Philharmonic Orchestra , in as much detail as possible? What is it like getting started? What is it like when your career gets into full swing? I want to know all the details 🙂
What does it take to become a member of the orchestra ? Will a grade 8 Suffice ? Or a Performance certificate ?
How many Hours a day you have to rehearse ?With or Without the orchestra ?
And do they hold lectures or master classes , sponsored by the company , or do you have to pay for the tuition fee yourself ?
And how much do violinists and other in the orchestra members get paid ?
Do they get paid on a monthly basis , or on contract basis or commision basis depending on the size of the Philharmonic Orchestra and the difficulty of the repertoire ?
Do they get employee benefits , like Employers Provident Fund and Medical?
I’m thinking of pursuing a career in music, so I just want to know what to expect.
Best answer:
Answer by TR
Clearly you’re in the UK and I’m in the USA, but I’ll share what I know and you can translate into your language 🙂
To get on at a symphony, you must be able to play. You show that in audition. While a graduate-level degree in music is a nice point on the resume, your ability to make the violin sing in the audition is the most important factor, and you can accomplish that in spite of lack of education.
Most symphonic musicians practice in their private studios for 3 hours or so daily. You get paid for time spent in rehearsal or performance with the orchestra, at union scale (access your musicians’ union website for the current rates). Yes, more famous orchestras will pay above scale, and you make more if you’re section leader or concertmaster. Difficulty of repertoire is not a factor, you are expected to be able to play anything competently.
Most symphony members supplement income by teaching (privately or moonlighting as a part-time university instructor), playing solo or ensemble concerts, repairing instruments, and if you’re with a big-time orchestra (or if you moonlighted and get onto the Moody Blues Orchestral Tour live album, etc.), with royalties from recording sales.
The one instructional benefit your orchestra will likely provide is the opportunity to learn from your music directors and guest conductors. Any further instruction you require will be on your own. Ancillary employee benefits are slim; you’ll need to manage your own retirement and supplementary insurance needs (the musicians union helps, there).
Now, one major consideration: you will need an instrument of proper quality. Professional symphonic violinists–even second-violinists who sit back of the section–own a couple of instruments valued at $ 10,000 or more (one primary, one back-up), with thousand-dollar bows to match. Many orchestras have low-cost loans or grants programs to assist members in upgrading their instruments, which is I think the most common sort of benefit for orchestral musicians.
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