Neo Classical – Holly Mulcahy on the future of classical music

Orchestra Etiquette Part I

Mon, Jun 7, 2010

by:

Holly Mulcahy

Whether you are the person sheepishly turning off the ringing cell phone during the quiet movement, or the annoyed and indignant person sitting next to the offender, there’s no denying there are certain rules and etiquette for orchestral concerts. While playing the Verdi Requiem last month, I heard a cell phone go off. The offender was seated pretty close to my position on the stage and I caught a glimpse of the incensed woman seated next to the tuneful cell phone’s owner. The woman’s very direct, and frankly, well practiced insistent look … Continue Reading

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Lambs to Slaughter; eroding the value of mentoring programs.

Mon, May 3, 2010

by:

Holly Mulcahy

With the financial crisis taking its toll, many performing arts groups are finding they can save money by filling professional orchestras with free labor. One of the increasingly popular methods is to offer mentoring opportunities for talented conservatory students. Unpaid college students receive an opportunity to play in a professional situation, gain some experience, and get mentored by the professional musicians. This is a very dangerous trend.

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It’s Black and White; the hidden effects of cutting corners

Mon, Apr 5, 2010

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Holly Mulcahy

Coda It was a combined effort of several orchestras and several conductors that helped raise money for the dead musicians’ families. Edward Elgar, Thomas Beecham, The London Symphony and The Philharmonic Orchestra were just some of the star players we’d recognize in this decade. In total, 500 musicians filled the stage at Royal Albert Hall, with an audience at capacity to hear the concert that May afternoon. So touching was this concert, it made headlines in both Europe and the United States. The only thing to eclipse the concert’s sheer size was … Continue Reading

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Orchestra Smaland; what a Swedish mega-retailer can teach classical music about building a customer base

Mon, Mar 1, 2010

by:

Holly Mulcahy

That old saying, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree, applies to classical music audiences now more than ever. Everyone remotely involved in the orchestra business is already aware that audiences are looking older and it is becoming harder to get younger listeners into the hall. And not only is there difficulty of pulling in patrons under 40, there is the ongoing challenge of keeping children educated about classical music so we can have some idea that there will be an audience for future generations. I’ve made a point to ask … Continue Reading

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The Dream Job; I wish my job as an orchestra musician was as easy as some make it seem

Mon, Feb 1, 2010

by:

Holly Mulcahy

In the outrageously funny movie, Office Space, there is a scene where the main character Peter Gibbons, a lowly cubicle dwelling worker, has to meet with a pair of efficiency consultants the company has hired to recommend cutbacks to define what he does during an average work day. One of Peter’s co-workers accurately describes the process as “interviewing for your own job”. It is a hilarious scene due to Peter’s honesty in telling the consultants (both named “Bob”) that in the course of any given week, he spends most of his time … Continue Reading

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