Remembering Who’s Who

After posting the Lost But Not Forgotten Update earlier this week, I received a note from a middle manager that used to work at one of the ensembles which went entirely out of business. They wanted to point out that the middle managers and staffers within their orchestra received one of a few options after the bankruptcy proceedings concluded: nothing or up to a quarter of their promised vacation pay…

Of course, this is in stark contrast to what many executive managers in the similar positions receive. For example, former San Antonio Symphony executive director, Steven Brosvik, continued to receive his full pay and benefits and five executives administrators were also paid on a full time basis during that same period.

If nothing else, these situations serves as a stark reminder that within many organizations the administrative divide between executives, managers, and staffers has never been larger.

Although it has been awhile, I think it’s high time for a refresher on the distinctions between who’s who within orchestra administration. The following chart illustrates a general breakdown of departments within an orchestra administration.

To learn more about the levels of bureaucracy in an orchestra’s administration, please visit an article I published from April 30, 2004: Who’s Who In Orchestra Administration .