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.

Breaking News From St. Louis

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After speaking with representatives from the Saint Louis Symphony Management and the Player’s Association, more details surrounding the auditions and resulting situation have emerged. The Auditions I spoke with Jeff Trammel, Director of Communications for the SLSO and he said that: The orchestra’s management had contacted some of the individual orchestra musicians who were scheduled to serve on the audition committee (the group of musicians responsible for listening to audition candidates). …

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Up To And Over The Edge Of The Cliff

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It’s odd how things tend to work themselves out in this business.  Yesterday the musicians of the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra voted overwhelmingly to authorize a strike.  However, being concerned about some timing issues regarding auditions scheduled for Monday, January 3 and Tuesday, January 4 they also approved having the musicians slotted to serve on the audition committees to continue working in order to not interrupt the audition. This gesture is …

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Classical Music Never Looked So Good

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I published an article today at The Partial Observer which examines several new concert halls that have been or will be opening up across the world.  One thing they all have in common is that they are truly striking buildings in their own right; from ultra modern through traditional neo classical designs. For further reading on how an orchestra goes about obtaining a new concert hall, visit the “Size Matters” series …

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The Turnover In Music Faculty At Interlochen

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Recently, the Interlochen Center for the Arts website posted the faculty list for the 2005 summer camp season. The list goes a long way in helping to clear up much of the ongoing discussion regarding exactly how many music faculty were dismissed in the recent”Thanksgiving week Massacre.”

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How NOT To End Your Year

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Awhile back I wrote about a very clever organist who made what would have been an otherwise run-of-the-mill wedding ceremony a real treat.  A friend of mine sent an audio clip of another organist who managed to turn a run-of-the-mill Halleluiah Chorus a real “laugh out loud” treat (although I doubt they intended for this to happen). Take the time to go listen, it only takes 42 seconds but you will …

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