Holly Mulcahy

After hearing Scheherazade at an early age, Holly Mulcahy fell in love with the violin and knew it would be her future. She currently serves as concertmaster of the Wichita Symphony Orchestra. She spends her summers at the celebrated Grand Teton Music Festival. Believing in music as a healing and coping source, Holly founded Arts Capacity, a charitable 501(c)3 which focuses on bringing live chamber music, art, artists, and composers to prisons. Arts Capacity addresses many emotional and character-building issues people face as they prepare for release into society. Holly performs on a 1917 Giovanni Cavani violin, previously owned by the late renowned soloist Eugene Fodor, and a bespoke bow made by award winning master bow maker, Douglas Raguse.

Thinking Outside the Box Seats

Sun, Sep 4, 2011Mon, Apr 6, 2009 by Holly Mulcahy

It was probably a combination of buying the Girl Scout cookies last week, buying dividend stocks this week, and wondering if there were going to be comp tickets for my performance next week that triggered a revelation this afternoon during my rehearsal.

Wondering about comp tickets made me think about one of my former orchestra’s policies of NO COMPS!

“We, the XYZ Symphony feel that we are losing too much revenue by offering comp tickets, and will therefore no longer be offering them. You, as a XYZ Symphony musician, are encouraged to share to your family and friends news of our upcoming concerts…blah, blah, blah.”

Personally, even though I knew better, I viewed the comp tickets as part of my benefits as an orchestra member. I never used any of the other benefits my former orchestra offered such as health insurance and instrument insurance so giving comp tickets to friends, family members, and students was something I sincerely cherished.

“There Are No Words”

Sun, Sep 4, 2011Mon, Mar 2, 2009 by Holly Mulcahy

A day before President Obama’s inauguration, the writers at Inside The Arts published “Dear President letters” from their unique perspective. Most of the letters were generally to do with the arts and how each writer wanted the next administration to handle the arts during the next four years. My letter was geared toward pointing out the necessary ways which classical music fills our lives during times of shared experiences. As I watched the inauguration, I found it particularly interesting that there were points where just about every reporter or newscaster would say, … Continue Reading

How To Alienate Your Audience in 10 Easy Steps: Audiences

Tue, Jul 12, 2022Mon, Feb 2, 2009 by Holly Mulcahy

A satirical look at how regular concert goers negatively impact the future of classical music.

An engaged, enthusiastic, and diverse audience is one of the strongest measurements for justifying an orchestra’s value. During my years as a violinist in various orchestras around the country, I have witnessed audiences lose their enthusiasm for live concerts and turn their backs to orchestras as the result of behavior not just from those inside the ensemble but from those around them.

How To Alienate Your Audience In 10 Easy Steps: Managers

Tue, Jul 12, 2022Mon, Jan 5, 2009 by Holly Mulcahy

An engaged, enthusiastic, and diverse audience is one of the strongest standards for justifying an orchestra’s value. During my years as a violinist in various orchestras around the country, I have witnessed audiences lose their enthusiasm for live concerts and turn their backs to orchestras as the result of behavior from those inside the ensemble.

The last two months I covered how music directors and musicians alienate audiences, and this month’s article will focus on managers. Unlike the previous two groups, managers are somewhat different in that they are not as visible to concert goers. However, they just as much if not more influence on how audience members experience a concert so out-of-sight, out-of-mind doesn’t really apply here. As such, here’s a step-by-step guide managers can use to identify the problems along with some practical advice on how to avoid the traps.

How To Alienate Your Audience in 10 Easy Steps: Musicians

Tue, Jul 12, 2022Mon, Dec 1, 2008 by Holly Mulcahy

Last month’s article showed how conductors alienate audiences through certain behaviors and this month is the musician’s turn. Of course, not every musician is guilty of the transgressions below but they happen often enough that they contribute to alienating an audience, so I’ve created this step-by-step guide to identify the problems along with some practical advice on how to avoid the traps.