Found this interesting item on the Pacific Symphony....
All: I came across this interesting bit of information on the Pacific Symphony. You may already know this, but I thought you might find it interesting.
Why does Orange County need a symphony orchestra?
The Pacific Symphony Orchestra enriches the cultural life of Orange County. By presenting world class performances in our community, we attract tourism, increase local business and make living in Orange County more desirable. Our nationally recognized education programs ensure that the children of our communities develop a rich appreciation for the arts.
How long has the Pacific Symphony Orchestra been in existence?
Founded in 1978, The Pacific Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the last thirty years and is the third largest orchestra in California.
Is the Orange County Philharmonic Society the same as the Pacific Symphony?
The Pacific Symphony is Orange County’s resident professional orchestra and we live and teach in our communities throughout the year. We are a diverse group, living in Orange County as well as Riverside, San Diego, and L.A. The Philharmonic Society is an organization that brings in touring orchestras from other cities to perform in Orange County.
What does working for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra involve?
The Pacific Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra which employs 88 contracted musicians. We play many different types of concerts throughout the year. We have a Classics concert series, a Pops series, a Family series, and a summer series at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Our job with the PSO requires us to practice, rehearse, and perform. Much of the work we do is spent practicing our individual parts at home. Daily repetitive drilling is necessary to maintain our musical flexibility and technique. Rehearsals are spent working on ensemble skills with the conductor. We have an average of four rehearsals for each Classics concert series, and fewer for the other series that are presented.
Do you make a living playing in the Pacific Symphony Orchestra? Do you have other jobs?
Pacific Symphony Musicians are not paid a salary. Instead, we are employed on a per service basis: we earn a fee for each rehearsal or concert we play. If a section musician in the PSO were to play every concert and rehearsal offered, his/her income would be approximately $32,775. It is imperative that PSO musicians supplement their income with other freelance opportunities. Many musicians perform with other orchestras in the area, including the Long Beach Symphony, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Barbara Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Pasadena Symphony, as well as many other ensembles. In addition, many PSO musicians record for the Motion Picture Industry and teach privately in their homes. Juggling all of these separate jobs is quite a challenge! Commuting long hours and maintaining maximum job flexibility are necessary in order to make a living wage for the average Pacific Symphony musician.
How long have you been playing your instruments?
A professional musician must begin his/her training very early in life, somewhere between the ages of three and twelve years old. This means that by the time a musician finishes his/her training, he/she has around twenty years of experience on a particular instrument. The music profession is an extremely competitive field. Many years devoted to hours of daily practice, private lessons, as well as investing in a high quality instrument do not guarantee that a player will succeed in making a living as a musician. Even when a musician joins the ranks of a professional orchestra, there is constant review and practice of one's technique to ensure a high degree of skill in each performance.
The musicians of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra have studied in many of the finest music schools in the world. We have Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Tuition at a major music conservatory is comparable to other prestigious schools in the country. Even after formal education, we musicians of the PSO continue to study privately with renowned instrumentalists in order to perfect our skill sets. A fee of $100-200 per hour of study with a master is not uncommon.
How did you become a member of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra?
Pacific Symphony Orchestra musicians are selected through a live audition. If there is an opening in the orchestra, a notice of the vacancy is advertised nationally. Resumes (and on occasion, tapes) are submitted and candidates are invited to come to Costa Mesa to audition. A personal audition is the only way to secure a position in the orchestra. A committee consisting of orchestra members and the conductor will listen to each candidate from behind a screen to ensure anonymity. Often the committee listens to as many as 80 applicants in the first round of an audition, dismissing candidates in subsequent rounds who don't consistly play to a high standard. Sometimes no one is chosen to fill the position. When someone is chosen, there is an additional trial period to allow the conductor to make certain of the committee's choice. The candidate must then go through a two year probationary period before he/she is formally recognized as a tenured member of the orchestra.
When a position becomes available for a particular instrument, a musician may have to travel across the country, competing with hundreds of other candidates for the job. A personal audition is the only way to secure an orchestra job. and can be quite costly. Airfare, accommodation, meals, and taxis are expenses borne totally by the musician. Additionally, musicians who play larger instruments (cello, tuba, or double bass) will typically buy an extra seat for their instrument, since it would be too valuable and delicate to be placed in the cargo hold.
Do PSO musicians own their own instruments?
Primarily the answer is yes. The value of an instrument owned by a Pacific Symphony member can range from a few thousand to over one million dollars. The PSO has started is an instrument loan program, through which generous patrons have bought instruments (primarily stringed instruments) for musicians to play. A few generous patrons have bought some percussion and brass instruments for musicians to play. One patron just purchased two Steinway grand pianos for use in our new concert hall.
What kind of care do these instruments need?
Regular maintenance is a necessity for all instruments. Brass players must keep their instruments from being dented in any way. For stringed instruments, all of the strings must be regularly replaced. A new bridge, a bow rehair, a varnish touch up, gluing a seam, or a sound adjustment requires a trip to the violin shop. Reed instrument players must keep an ample supply of reeds customized to suit the individual player and instrument. Oboists and bassoonists make the reeds themselves from cane and it is a constant and time consuming process. Safeguarding instruments from adverse temperature fluctuations and weather conditions is imperitive to avoid cracking, warping, and instruments going out of tune. The Pacific Symphony Association does not reimburse the musicians for any materials, labor, or repairs needed for a musician's instrument. So, it is up to the musicians to maintain and keep their instruments in tip-top shape for performing.
What other “tools of the trade” must a musician supply?
Although orchestra parts for concerts are provided by the symphony, each musician maintains a collection of music at home for personal use. A home library will consist of chamber music, teaching pieces, audition parts and solo repertoire. We must be ready for all of the different types of jobs that we do in order to make a living as musicians. Most musicians have personal libraries that contain several hundred pieces of sheet music.
The men and women of the Pacific Symphony are required to purchase several styles of formal wear. Tailcoats, tuxedos, black suits, and white jackets are needed for the men. Colorful dresses, formal black dresses or suits, and white jackets are needed for the ladies.
Musician’s instruments are not insured through the Pacific Symphony, and ordinary homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover insturments that are taken out of the house to be played. PSO musicians must find and secure individual policies for their instruments.
What benefits do PSO musicians receive?
11% pension contribution to the American Federation of Musicians Employee Pension Fund.
4% contribution toward health insurance
Benefits we do not yet receive include:
Life Insurance
Full Family Medical Coverage
Sick Leave
Vacation Pay
Instrument Insurance
Paid Maternity Leave
All: I came across this interesting bit of information on the Pacific Symphony. You may already know this, but I thought you might find it interesting.
Why does Orange County need a symphony orchestra?
The Pacific Symphony Orchestra enriches the cultural life of Orange County. By presenting world class performances in our community, we attract tourism, increase local business and make living in Orange County more desirable. Our nationally recognized education programs ensure that the children of our communities develop a rich appreciation for the arts.
How long has the Pacific Symphony Orchestra been in existence?
Founded in 1978, The Pacific Symphony is the largest orchestra formed in the United States in the last thirty years and is the third largest orchestra in California.
Is the Orange County Philharmonic Society the same as the Pacific Symphony?
The Pacific Symphony is Orange County’s resident professional orchestra and we live and teach in our communities throughout the year. We are a diverse group, living in Orange County as well as Riverside, San Diego, and L.A. The Philharmonic Society is an organization that brings in touring orchestras from other cities to perform in Orange County.
What does working for the Pacific Symphony Orchestra involve?
The Pacific Symphony Orchestra is an orchestra which employs 88 contracted musicians. We play many different types of concerts throughout the year. We have a Classics concert series, a Pops series, a Family series, and a summer series at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater. Our job with the PSO requires us to practice, rehearse, and perform. Much of the work we do is spent practicing our individual parts at home. Daily repetitive drilling is necessary to maintain our musical flexibility and technique. Rehearsals are spent working on ensemble skills with the conductor. We have an average of four rehearsals for each Classics concert series, and fewer for the other series that are presented.
Do you make a living playing in the Pacific Symphony Orchestra? Do you have other jobs?
Pacific Symphony Musicians are not paid a salary. Instead, we are employed on a per service basis: we earn a fee for each rehearsal or concert we play. If a section musician in the PSO were to play every concert and rehearsal offered, his/her income would be approximately $32,775. It is imperative that PSO musicians supplement their income with other freelance opportunities. Many musicians perform with other orchestras in the area, including the Long Beach Symphony, Los Angeles Opera, Los Angeles Philharmonic, Santa Barbara Symphony, San Diego Symphony, and Pasadena Symphony, as well as many other ensembles. In addition, many PSO musicians record for the Motion Picture Industry and teach privately in their homes. Juggling all of these separate jobs is quite a challenge! Commuting long hours and maintaining maximum job flexibility are necessary in order to make a living wage for the average Pacific Symphony musician.
How long have you been playing your instruments?
A professional musician must begin his/her training very early in life, somewhere between the ages of three and twelve years old. This means that by the time a musician finishes his/her training, he/she has around twenty years of experience on a particular instrument. The music profession is an extremely competitive field. Many years devoted to hours of daily practice, private lessons, as well as investing in a high quality instrument do not guarantee that a player will succeed in making a living as a musician. Even when a musician joins the ranks of a professional orchestra, there is constant review and practice of one's technique to ensure a high degree of skill in each performance.
The musicians of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra have studied in many of the finest music schools in the world. We have Bachelor's, Master's, and Doctoral degrees. Tuition at a major music conservatory is comparable to other prestigious schools in the country. Even after formal education, we musicians of the PSO continue to study privately with renowned instrumentalists in order to perfect our skill sets. A fee of $100-200 per hour of study with a master is not uncommon.
How did you become a member of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra?
Pacific Symphony Orchestra musicians are selected through a live audition. If there is an opening in the orchestra, a notice of the vacancy is advertised nationally. Resumes (and on occasion, tapes) are submitted and candidates are invited to come to Costa Mesa to audition. A personal audition is the only way to secure a position in the orchestra. A committee consisting of orchestra members and the conductor will listen to each candidate from behind a screen to ensure anonymity. Often the committee listens to as many as 80 applicants in the first round of an audition, dismissing candidates in subsequent rounds who don't consistly play to a high standard. Sometimes no one is chosen to fill the position. When someone is chosen, there is an additional trial period to allow the conductor to make certain of the committee's choice. The candidate must then go through a two year probationary period before he/she is formally recognized as a tenured member of the orchestra.
When a position becomes available for a particular instrument, a musician may have to travel across the country, competing with hundreds of other candidates for the job. A personal audition is the only way to secure an orchestra job. and can be quite costly. Airfare, accommodation, meals, and taxis are expenses borne totally by the musician. Additionally, musicians who play larger instruments (cello, tuba, or double bass) will typically buy an extra seat for their instrument, since it would be too valuable and delicate to be placed in the cargo hold.
Do PSO musicians own their own instruments?
Primarily the answer is yes. The value of an instrument owned by a Pacific Symphony member can range from a few thousand to over one million dollars. The PSO has started is an instrument loan program, through which generous patrons have bought instruments (primarily stringed instruments) for musicians to play. A few generous patrons have bought some percussion and brass instruments for musicians to play. One patron just purchased two Steinway grand pianos for use in our new concert hall.
What kind of care do these instruments need?
Regular maintenance is a necessity for all instruments. Brass players must keep their instruments from being dented in any way. For stringed instruments, all of the strings must be regularly replaced. A new bridge, a bow rehair, a varnish touch up, gluing a seam, or a sound adjustment requires a trip to the violin shop. Reed instrument players must keep an ample supply of reeds customized to suit the individual player and instrument. Oboists and bassoonists make the reeds themselves from cane and it is a constant and time consuming process. Safeguarding instruments from adverse temperature fluctuations and weather conditions is imperitive to avoid cracking, warping, and instruments going out of tune. The Pacific Symphony Association does not reimburse the musicians for any materials, labor, or repairs needed for a musician's instrument. So, it is up to the musicians to maintain and keep their instruments in tip-top shape for performing.
What other “tools of the trade” must a musician supply?
Although orchestra parts for concerts are provided by the symphony, each musician maintains a collection of music at home for personal use. A home library will consist of chamber music, teaching pieces, audition parts and solo repertoire. We must be ready for all of the different types of jobs that we do in order to make a living as musicians. Most musicians have personal libraries that contain several hundred pieces of sheet music.
The men and women of the Pacific Symphony are required to purchase several styles of formal wear. Tailcoats, tuxedos, black suits, and white jackets are needed for the men. Colorful dresses, formal black dresses or suits, and white jackets are needed for the ladies.
Musician’s instruments are not insured through the Pacific Symphony, and ordinary homeowner insurance policies typically do not cover insturments that are taken out of the house to be played. PSO musicians must find and secure individual policies for their instruments.
What benefits do PSO musicians receive?
11% pension contribution to the American Federation of Musicians Employee Pension Fund.
4% contribution toward health insurance
Benefits we do not yet receive include:
Life Insurance
Full Family Medical Coverage
Sick Leave
Vacation Pay
Instrument Insurance
Paid Maternity Leave
