BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant

Berklee College of Music•Boston, MA

9d•$17•Onsite

About The Position

The BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant will work with Professional Performance Division (PPD) staff in running the operations of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) and administrative support for the PPD office. This position works up to 8 hours per week for 15 weeks in the Fall and 15 weeks in the Spring semester. Hours can be flexible, working more hours in the first weeks of classes and fewer hours in the last weeks of classes according to the volume of librarianship duties. For the PPD office, this position will provide administrative support for the PPD Operations, Programs, and Projects Administrator and the Associate Director of Academic Division Programs. For the BCSO, they will be responsible for assisting with artistic planning including researching repertoire for future concerts, marketing of concerts, as well as orchestral librarian duties (renting, copying, distributing, bowing and return of parts to rental libraries). The goal of this position is to provide a glimpse into the backstage life of running an orchestra from start to finish with other possible duties including personnel management (audition scheduling, ensuring ensemble numbers meet score instrumentation, musician selection and seating of sections, backstage musician direction, intermission/break timing, etc.), librarian duties, stage management (cartage of gear, stage design/plotting, etc.), front of house management (preparing lobby, distributing programs, and providing customer service) and concert planning (walking through venues, planning stage moves, designing concert programs, marketing concerts etc.). Selected students must be available to attend all rehearsals and concerts and to move/set up chairs, stands, and equipment. Concerts are MANDATORY. Orchestra rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-9PM in the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Requirements

Current student at Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
Enrolled at least half-time in a degree, diploma, or certificate-seeking undergraduate or graduate program. Summer is the only semester in which a student can maintain employment without being enrolled. In this case, the student must be pre-registered for the upcoming fall semester. This exception does not apply to fall or spring semesters.
Have a valid United States Social Security Number (SSN).
Remain in “valid” Visa status as applicable.
A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students in their first semester can work, even though they do not have an official GPA until the completion of their first semester.
Federal Work Study student may apply.
In good disciplinary standing.
Must be located in the U.S.

Nice To Haves

Orchestral playing experience
Administrative skills
Self-directed
Interest in ensemble (particularly classical ensemble) operations
Interest in cross-genre musical collaborations
Excellent attention to detail
Assertive management skills (the ability to confidently direct your peers)
Ability to problem solve quickly while under high stress
Can also be a member of the orchestra

Responsibilities

Assist with artistic planning including researching repertoire for future concerts.
Marketing of concerts.
Perform orchestral librarian duties (renting, copying, distributing, bowing and return of parts to rental libraries).
Provide administrative support for the PPD Operations, Programs, and Projects Administrator and the Associate Director of Academic Division Programs.
Assist with personnel management (audition scheduling, ensuring ensemble numbers meet score instrumentation, musician selection and seating of sections, backstage musician direction, intermission/break timing, etc.).
Assist with stage management (cartage of gear, stage design/plotting, etc.).
Assist with front of house management (preparing lobby, distributing programs, and providing customer service).
Assist with concert planning (walking through venues, planning stage moves, designing concert programs, marketing concerts etc.).
Attend all rehearsals and concerts.
Move/set up chairs, stands, and equipment.