Trainee position : the orchestral administration experience

The Academy of St Martin in the Fields is offering a six-month voluntary traineeship. The ideal candidate will have a passion for classical music, a clear desire to work in arts management and a keen interest in learning about the working of a busy touring orchestra. A sense of humour is vital! This is a voluntary position; direct travel and lunch expenses will be reimbursed.

The traineeship provides a rare opportunity to experience being part of a small, busy team and to develop new skills. You will learn about other arts organizations in the world of music, benefit from career advice from senior management, attend concerts and rehearsals and meet some of London’s finest classical musicians.

The successful applicant will be able to observe all areas of the organization during the six-month traineeship. As well as receiving training in office management skills, the busy Concerts and Education/Outward Sound departments will provide opportunities to participate in projects such as:

Concerts

• Assisting with concert planning through helping with:

o Arranging instrument hire (e.g. keyboard instruments)

o Checking the availability of rehearsal and recording venues

o Compiling security lists for venues, comprising staff, orchestra personnel, artists and invited guests eg. friends and sponsors, school groups

• Attending rehearsals and concerts in London and assisting with stage set up

• Assisting with music library duties

• Helping to maintain records and department administration

• Assisting with the gathering of tour documentation

• Assisting with visa applications for musicians and staff

• Preparing and distributing monthly schedules and project schedules

• Assisting with artist logistics eg. flights, hotel and car bookings

Education/Outward Sound

• Participation in project administration: drafting project documents including schedules, project descriptions, meeting papers

• Helping to administer organizational systems

• Partnership liaison: communications with community partners, members of the office and orchestra

• Planning: investigate, research and help develop new opportunities

• Project assistance: assist in the live management of community projects

Office Administration

• Assist Education and Administration Assistant with:

o Answering telephones

o Checking faxes and emails

o Sorting and distributing post

o Ordering and maintaining stationery, office equipment and supplies

o Assembling weekly invoices for approval

In order to be considered for this opportunity, please send your CV by email to Katy Jones, Personnel Manager (katyjones@asmf.org), including a covering note describing your interest in supporting the management team and your aspirations for the future. We would like to hear from you by Friday June 1 2012.

Academy of St Martin in the Fields

Music Director: Joshua Bell 

Vacant position

Following the retirement of Kenneth Sillito, the Academy will be seeking an outstanding musician to lead the orchestra, working in partnership with Joshua Bell. In the 2011/12 and 2012/13 seasons, we will be inviting inspirational violinists to work as guests with the group in its various formats: to direct and sometimes perform concertos with its trademark core conductorless chamber orchestra, to lead the Chamber Ensemble, and to act as concertmaster for projects with Sir Neville Marriner, Murray Perahia and occasional visiting guest conductors. The position will afford an ideal opportunity for a performer with excellent leadership skills to make their mark on the evolution of this famous group at a turning point in its history, and to work with and inspire London’s finest players in a broad range of repertoire.

The Academy has a membership of some 50 freelance players, to whom work in its schedule is offered. Many of its string players are chamber musicians or leaders of other chamber orchestras; the winds are hand-picked from London’s symphony orchestras and freelancers. All relish the opportunity to come together and work in a group which they regard as second to none. The orchestra’s schedule is carefully maintained at approximately six months’ work each season, encouraging the players to work in other guises and to return to the Academy with a freshness which invigorates the orchestra’s performances.

The successful appointee to the leadership role will have a significant involvement in maintaining artistic standards: he or she will work with the Music Director and the Principals Committee to make new appointments as they arise and carry out ongoing review of the membership.

Once appointed, the leader will be offered a range of directing and leading work each season. It is expected that the leader will prioritise the Academy’s work while maintaining their career outside. In the case of diary clashes, it may be possible for the leadership of some projects to be assumed by violinists from within the orchestra’s ranks, or for guests to be invited in. It will not generally be part of the post holder’s remit to perform with the orchestra’s artistic partners, who include Julia Fischer, Julian Rachlin, Janine Jansen and Anthony Marwood, but rather have a clear individual role within the orchestra’s working life. It is hoped that there will be opportunities to work with the Music Director, Joshua Bell.

Enquiries should be made to the orchestra’s Chief Executive, Anna Rowe: annarowe@asmf.org.