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Latest reply from David J. Hahn

(3 posts) (2 people)

Classical Concert

Posted 2 years ago by Andree-Ann

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Andree-Ann said 2 years ago

Hey all,

While I know the majority of the questions being asked here are mostly related to jazz or other commercial types of music, there has been a topic I have been asking myself about for quite a while.
How does a musician make it in the classical world? I have organized a modern classical recital before, but of course, it was certainly not that much of a success, having a very limited budget. The concert halls are fairly expensive, and I can't imagine that pianists or other musicians would get all that money out of their pocket everytime.
Let's say I am a concert pianist looking to put up some recitals, maybe a tour or only a single concert, what would be the ideal road to take? What is the usual budget for classical musicians? How do they get solo gigs, aside from winning prestigious competitions?

Thanks for the help!

Andree-Ann
http://www.myspace.com/andreeanndeschenes
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Andree-Ann said 2 years ago

Anyone?

Andree-Ann
http://www.myspace.com/andreeanndeschenes
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David J. Hahn said 2 years ago

Yikes, I can't say I know much about that side of things.

My girlfriend is a violinist in an ICSOM orchestra. We've been together for years now, and I've seen a bit of the industry. But that's from the perspective of an orchestra musician (which is pretty useless to us pianists).

I know that orchestra gigs can be really stable and cushy, if you are good enough, and lucky enough, to get into one. Its one of the most stable jobs in the musician industry I'd say.

But the soloists and guest conductors that come and play with the orchestra? Or give solo recitals at Carnegie? Man, I don't know. We have some friends in a string quartet, but I think they all teach lessons on the side and struggle financially.

The classical scene is really a winner-takes-all kind of industry. (All of music is, really, but its very clear in the classical world.) If you are the absolute best, you make all the money. Anyone in the talent pool just below the absolute best - they seem to make nearly nothing and struggle their whole lives.

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