Friday, September 4, 2009
Friday Institutes
Morning Sessions
9:00 - 11:15 am
"So You Think You Can Lead: The Role of the Conductor as Leader"
Ramona Wis, presenter (Author, The Conductor as Leader: Principles of Leadership Applied to Life on the Podium (GIA Publications, 2007)
Conductors are, by definition, leaders. But the success of the organization depends on more than our ability to prepare concerts or conduct challenging repertoire. In this, the first of two in-depth sessions, we will look at what leadership means from the conductor's perspective. What is the difference between managing and leading? How do we use our influence to shape rehearsals and therefore, the experience of our singers, to create an excellent artistic product? How do power and ego impact our ability to lead? What is "Servant Leadership" and how does this approach unlock everyone's potential?
New Frontiers in Arts Marketing
Alan Brown, presenter
Alan Brown, principal of WolfBrown, is a champion for innovation, change and sustainability in the nonprofit arts industry. As a researcher and consultant, he has studied audiences, visitors and patterns of cultural participation in almost every major market in the U.S. His work focuses on understanding consumer demand for cultural experiences and on helping cultural institutions, foundations and agencies to see new opportunities, make informed decisions and respond to changing conditions.
Benefits:
- Gain a sense of the trends that are re-shaping the environment in which we operate.
- Learn about what arts presenters are doing to meet these challenges.
- Leave with at least one practical idea for improving audience development efforts.
Chorus Management Boot Camp
Robin Godfrey, facilitator
Eve Campbell, facilitator
Running your chorus as a volunteer or part-timer can be an overwhelming task requiring many different kinds of expertise. Our presenters have years of experience in running small to mid-size choruses and have assembled a workbook full of background materials and examples that delegates will have to take home with them. Topics to be covered will include marketing, administrative basics (financial management, membership tracking, banking and insurance), concert production (venues, hiring musicians, sound and lighting contracts, etc), board matters and volunteer management. Fundraising will be covered at a separate session on Sunday.
Benefits:
- Understand the "big picture" of how to build and maintain a successful chorus.
- Gain 101 level knowledge of marketing, administration, concert production, board matters and volunteer management.
- Become part of a peer group for on-going support and guidance.
- Get answers to your specific questions from presenters who have managed choruses like yours.
