BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant

Berklee College of Music; Boston (MA); On-site; USD 22,000 - 25,000; Part time

Job summary

The Berklee College of Music invites applications for the BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant. You will support the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra operations and provide administrative help for the Professional Performance Division office, gaining hands-on experience in orchestral management.

The role involves assisting with repertoire research, concert marketing, librarian duties, and stage/house coordination while coordinating with PPD staff and faculty.

Qualifications

• The ideal candidate will have orchestral playing experience, administrative skills, self-directed work habits, and an interest in ensemble operations.
• Strong attention to detail and the ability to confidently direct peers under high stress.
• Interest in cross-genre musical collaborations and quick problem-solving abilities.

Responsibilities

• Assist with operating the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) and provide admin support for the PPD office.
• Research repertoire for future concerts and assist with concert marketing.
• Carry out librarian duties such as renting, copying, distributing, bowing and returning parts.
• Support personnel management tasks (audition scheduling, seating, and stage direction).
• Assist with front-of-house planning, program design, and concert logistics.

Skills

Orchestral playing experience

Administrative skills

Self-directed

Ensemble operations

Cross-genre collaboration

Attention to detail

Assertive management

Problem solving under pressure

Job description

Eligibility Requirements

• Current student at Berklee College of Music or Boston Conservatory at Berklee.
• Enrolled at least half-time in a degree, diploma, or certificate-seeking undergraduate or graduate program.
• Summer is the only semester in which a student can maintain employment without being enrolled. In this case, the student must be pre-registered for the upcoming fall semester. This exception does not apply to fall or spring semesters.
• Have a valid United States Social Security Number (SSN).
• Remain in “valid” Visa status as applicable.
• A minimum 2.0 cumulative GPA. Students in their first semester can work, even though they do not have an official GPA until the completion of their first semester.
• Federal Work Study student may apply.
• In good disciplinary standing.
• Must be located in the U.S.

Job Overview

The BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant will work with Professional Performance Division (PPD) staff in running the operations of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) and administrative support for the PPD office.

This position works up to 8 hours per week for 15 weeks in the Fall and 15 weeks in the Spring semester. Hours can be flexible, working more hours in the first weeks of classes and fewer hours in the last weeks of classes according to the volume of librarianship duties.

The BCSO Student Orchestra Assistant will work with Professional Performance Division (PPD) staff in running the operations of the Berklee Contemporary Symphony Orchestra (BCSO) and administrative support for the PPD office.

For the PPD office, this position will provide administrative support for the PPD Operations, Programs, and Projects Administrator and the Associate Director of Academic Division Programs.

For the BCSO, they will be responsible for assisting with artistic planning including researching repertoire for future concerts, marketing of concerts, as well as orchestral librarian duties (renting, copying, distributing, bowing and return of parts to rental libraries).

The goal of this position is to provide a glimpse into the backstage life of running an orchestra from start to finish with other possible duties including personnel management (audition scheduling, ensuring ensemble numbers meet score instrumentation, musician selection and seating of sections, backstage musician direction, intermission/break timing, etc.), librarian duties, stage management (cartage of gear, stage design/plotting, etc.), front of house management (preparing lobby, distributing programs, and providing customer service) and concert planning (walking through venues, planning stage moves, designing concert programs, marketing concerts etc.).

Selected students must be available to attend all rehearsals and concerts and to move/set up chairs, stands, and equipment. Concerts are MANDATORY. Orchestra rehearses Mondays and Wednesdays from 7-9PM in the Fall and Spring Semesters.

Ideal Candidate

• The ideal candidate will have orchestral playing experience, administrative skills, self-directed, an interest in ensemble (particularly classical ensemble) operations, an interest in cross-genre musical collaborations, excellent attention to detail, assertive management skills (the ability to confidently direct your peers), and ability to problem solve quickly while under high stress.
• This position can also be a member of the orchestra.

Compensation

• Hourly Rate: $16.97
• Hiring Manager: Jamie Davis-Ponce

Additional Information

If you are looking to get involved with the Berklee community while earning some money, you may want to consider applying for student employment. The Student Employment program provides opportunities for you to work part-time on campus, thereby helping you to meet some of your living expenses. With more than 900 positions ranging from 10 to 15 hours of work per week, as well as daily opportunities for project-based temporary employment, student employment is a great opportunity for professional and educational growth.