Jobs in Classical Music

Classical music careers can be found in performing, teaching and arts administration.orchestra image by Pedro Luis from Fotolia.com

There are many different types of jobs in classical music, specifically in the fields of performance, teaching and arts administration. Orchestras look for soloists as well as full-time orchestral members. Choruses need vocal soloists and on-going members. Universities need teaching faculty and arts organizations need administrators. Sometimes, people in classical music have what is known as a portfolio career and hold jobs in all three areas: performance, teaching and administration.

Classical Music Soloists

Whether you are an instrumental or vocal soloist, you will need to audition to get a classical music solo. Your responsibilities and pay may vary widely from job to job. You may be asked to just show up for dress rehearsal and the performance, or you may be asked to spend time with your performance group, coaching them on the music and helping them acclimate to performing with you. Solos can be paid or unpaid positions.

You may like classical music so much that you decide you would like to teach music at the university level. You will have to have at least a B.A. to become a music instructor and maybe even a PhD in music if you want to work towards a tenure track position. Pay varies widely and duties include but are not limited to chair meetings, advising university music activities, interviewing potential faculty members, preparing library reserve listening lists and sitting on university administrative committees. A full-time position is considered a teaching load of at least three classes per semester. Salary can depend on your area of music expertise, the university at which you work and the geographic location in which you live.

Arts administrators work in a variety of environments. Again, pay varies widely, depending on the forum, geographic location and funding sources available. An arts administrator may head up a classical music festival, a performance venue, a community music school or a local government arts committee. Basic arts administrator duties can include budgeting, hiring staff, procuring funding, music, instruments and supplies, organizing venue maintenance and supervising performance choices and schedules.