Artistic profiles
Artistic positions within orchestras include the areas of artistic planning and concert program production.
To view profiles, choose:
- By state, choose your state in the left hand menu
- Sorted by last name, below
Alberto Gutierrez
Vice President of Artistic Administration
Colorado Symphony Orchestra
Denver, Colorado
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Years in current position: 2
Years in the field: 14
Majors:
Zoology, Music Performance
Additional Training:
Summer music festivals, seminars, attending concerts
Career Path:
Music Assistance Fund Coordinator and Youth Orchestra Division Liaison, League of American Orchestras
Orchestra Manager, Portland Symphony Orchestra
Personnel and Operations Manager, Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra
Operatiosn Manager, San Antonio Symphony
General Manager, Memphis Symphony Orchestra
What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
Working with the variety of people—from staff, musicians, board, and community to those in the
industry.
What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
The music. The first step was becoming a musician.
What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Listen, listen, listen. If you don’t have a passion for music, try a different field.
Any other advice?
Talk to people in the field, especially those who have had different careers.
Jee-Hak K. Pinsoneault
Technical Director
Adrian Symphony Orchestra
Adrian, Michigan
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Years in current position: 6
Years in the field: 6
Majors:
Music
Career Path:
Intern, Adrian Symphony Orchestra
Stage Manager, Adrian Symphony Orchestra
What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
The most challenging aspect of this position is seeking out and then waiting for the funding to allow my position to exist as a full-time, salaried job. The most interesting aspect of the job is the requirement to make your own destiny. There is no large corporate or government structure to adhere to, and procedures and systems that those in other sectors take for granted must be totally created and executed independantly in the non-profit performing arts.
What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
Love of arts, culture and history, and my personal experiences in the performing arts and music.
Would you do anything differently?
Looking back, I might seek more non-profit education prior to entering the job market, and also apply for jobs at a wider range or organizations.
What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
I would encourage others to truly understand and experience what it means to work for a non-profit symphony orchestra. They ought to do things like volunteer, sit in on meetings, or become an intern. Simultaneously, they make as many connections as possible to the orchestra community at-large, not limiting themselves to positions, titles, or geographic locations.
Any other advice?
I would again emphasize the need to be an independant, self-motivated creator and to connect with as many professionals in the field as possible.
Louis Scaglione
President and Music Director
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Years in current position: 12
Years in the field: 20
Majors:
B.S. Music Education
M.M. Conducting
Additional Training:
Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene, Oregon
Internationale Bachakademie, Stuttgart, Germany
Europaishe Musikfest, Stuttgart, Germany
Classical Music Seminar, Eisenstadt, Austria
St. Petersburg Conservatory, St. Petersburg, Russia
Career Path:
Conductor, Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra
Artistic Director and Conductor, Choral Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
General Music Director, Luzerne Music Festival, New York
Adjunct Faculty, Montgomery County Community College, Pennsylvania
Faculty, Temple University Music Preparatory Division
Artistic Director, Arts at Andalusia, Andalusia Foundation, Pennsylvania
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master, Temple University Opera Theater, Pennsylvania
Assistant to Artistic Director, Illinois Opera Theater, University of Illinois
What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
Each day brings a new set of challenges when running a non-profit
organization. The most challenging aspect of my work is to continually
build upon prior success.
What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
I’ve always wanted to teach music. With a youth orchestra, I get to
work with the best and brightest young people from my community.
What were your first steps toward an orchestra career?
I took advantage of all opportunities, and I sought opportunities that
I believed would help guide and develop my career as a professional
educator, musician, conductor, and administrator.
What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Immerse yourself in your work. Be prepared to work 24 hours a day,
seven days a week. If you don’t wish to put in that kind of time and
effort, then this business is not really for you.
Any other advice?
Be prepared, conduct yourself professionally, and seek as much experience during your learning years as possible.
Linda Shea
Music Director
Peakharmonic Youth Orchestra
Colorado Springs
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Years in current position: Newly hired
Years in the field: 18
Majors:
Music Performance
Additional Training:
Aspen Music Festival, three summers
Career Path:
Clarinetist: Colorado Springs Philharmonic, Santa Fe Opera, Greeley Philharmonic, Fort Collins Symphony
What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
Recruitment
What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
Love of music
What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Take advantage of as many opportunities as possible.