A Sad Day: Stephen Paulus Has Died

Fifteen months after suffering a stroke composer Stephen Paulus passed away on 10/19/2014 and the field is better having him been a part of it. In addition to being a gifted and successful composer, Paulus was a genuine entrepreneur composer who was decades ahead of his time and generously shared his time and wisdom with fellow composers.

In addition to a 23 year tenure as an American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers board member, he founded The American Composers Forum, a leading service organization serving the needs of composers.

You can read more about Paulus’ career and accomplishments in an excellent article by Graydon Royce in the 10/20/2014 edition of the Star-Tribune.

L to R: Stephen Paulus, Alex Shapiro, and me at the 2009 Midwest Clinic.
L to R: Stephen Paulus, Alex Shapiro, and me at the 2009 Midwest Clinic.

About Drew McManus

"I hear that every time you show up to work with an orchestra, people get fired." Those were the first words out of an executive's mouth after her board chair introduced us. That executive is now a dear colleague and friend but the day that consulting contract began with her orchestra, she was convinced I was a hatchet-man brought in by the board to clean house.

I understand where the trepidation comes from as a great deal of my consulting and technology provider work for arts organizations involves due diligence, separating fact from fiction, interpreting spin, as well as performance review and oversight. So yes, sometimes that work results in one or two individuals "aggressively embracing career change" but far more often than not, it reinforces and clarifies exactly what works and why.

In short, it doesn't matter if you know where all the bodies are buried if you can't keep your own clients out of the ground, and I'm fortunate enough to say that for more than 15 years, I've done exactly that for groups of all budget size from Qatar to Kathmandu.

For fun, I write a daily blog about the orchestra business, provide a platform for arts insiders to speak their mind, keep track of what people in this business get paid, help write a satirical cartoon about orchestra life, hack the arts, and love a good coffee drink.

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2 thoughts on “A Sad Day: Stephen Paulus Has Died”

  1. A terribly sad time in Minnesota right now. Steve Paulus, when I met him in the 1980’s, was so open to the new, interested in other arts, and intensely curious. I loved talking with him — so down-to-earth, genuine, warm and just a lovely human being. He supported my writing efforts at the time, which surprised me, but that was Steve. My thoughts and condolences are with his family and close friends now. Thankful for all the music he’s written but now bereft that his musical voice is now silent.

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