Thirty-four orchestra executives, administrators, musicians, students, and career changers from across the country participated in the League of American Orchestras’ Essentials of Orchestra Management program in Los Angeles, July 16-26. The ten-day immersive seminar, taking place on the campus of the University of Southern California, develops the careers of orchestra managers, providing an in-depth overview of orchestra administration and offering participants the opportunity to learn from a faculty of orchestra executives, musicians, and leadership experts. The seminar was led by Essentials Director Simon Woods, chief executive officer of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and Associate Director Scott Faulkner, bassist at the Reno Philharmonic and former executive director of the Reno Chamber Orchestra, along with other distinguished faculty. Topics in the newly updated curriculum included diversity, education and community engagement, audience building, finance and sustainability, operations, advocacy, governance, and negotiations and collective bargaining. Essentials is presented by the League of American Orchestras in association with the USC Arts Leadership Program. Find out more at https://americanorchestras.org/essentials.
