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CHICAGO
(March 4, 2014) – The Chicago Sinfonietta today announced the launch of
the Project Inclusion Conducting Fellowship (PICF), a program that aims
to foster the development of conductors of diverse backgrounds who are
on the verge of professional careers. The conducting fellows will have
the opportunity to work closely with Chicago Sinfonietta Music Director
Mei-Ann Chen over a one to two year period and will have multiple
opportunities to conduct live ensembles through partnerships with
leading Chicago classical music organizations and educational
institutions.
Begun
in 2007, for its first six seasons, Project Inclusion has focused its
efforts on helping orchestral musicians from diverse backgrounds launch
careers in the Classical music industry. With support from the Andrew
Mellon Foundation, the Chicago Community Trust, and the League of
American Orchestras, the Fellowship will expand the current Project
Inclusion program to include early career diverse conductors who will be
chosen through a competitive audition process.
“I
am thrilled to announce the launch of this unique program that will
give talented conductors from diverse backgrounds the opportunity to
learn through hands-on experiences in front of live musicians and the
benefit of learning the administrative and fundraising skills that
conductors need to master to succeed today,” said music director Mei-Ann
Chen. “When I was finishing my graduate studies and looking for
opportunities that would prepare me for a professional career, there
were very few programs that offered both in-depth experiences and
covered a wide range of topics. The Chicago Sinfonietta’s Project
Inclusion Conducting Fellowship is a unique program that combines the
strength of programs which existed in the past, and could become a
launching platform for potentially significant professional careers.”
“With
the support of the Mellon Foundation and our other funders, we have the
opportunity to expand Project Inclusion to serve conductors from
diverse backgrounds who seek careers as orchestra music directors,”
added Jim Hirsch, Chicago Sinfonietta executive director. “We want to be
the catalyst that assists deserving young conductors get their first
professional opportunity.”
The
PICF program will offer a comprehensive education to the Fellows. In
addition to intensive conducting opportunities with Chicago Sinfonietta
members and Project Inclusion Orchestral Fellows, the Conducting Fellows
will attend seminars with leading musical leaders in Chicago and
receive training in board development, financial statement analysis,
marketing symphonic music to prospective audiences, and working with
union orchestras under a collective bargaining agreement.
Additional
information on the Project Inclusion Conducting Fellowship program and a
downloadable application can be found on the Chicago Sinfonietta web
site. Auditions for the program, to be held in Chicago, will occur in
late spring or early summer. Conductors chosen to participate in the
program will be expected to start their duties in the fall or early
winter of 2014 and will receive room and travel assistance. They will
not be expected to reside in Chicago but will have to attend all five
intensive sessions that will occur during the Chicago Sinfonietta
concert season.
The
Chicago Sinfonietta is a professional orchestra that forms unique
cultural connections through the universal language of symphonic music.
For over 26 years, the Sinfonietta has pushed artistic and social
boundaries to provide an alternative way of hearing, seeing and thinking
about a symphony orchestra. Each concert experience fuses inventive new
works with classical masterworks from a diverse array of voices to
entertain, transform and inspire. The Chicago Sinfonietta performs five
subscription concerts in both downtown Chicago at Symphony Center and in
Naperville at Wentz Concert Hall. The Sinfonietta has a proud history
of having enriched the cultural, educational and social quality of life
in Chicago under the guidance of Founding Music Director Paul Freeman.
Mei-Ann Chen succeeded Paul Freeman as the Chicago Sinfonietta’s Music
Director beginning with the 2011-12 season. In 2012 the Sinfonietta was
honored with two national awards for excellence from the League of
American Orchestras, one for adventurous programming and one recognizing
Maestro Chen with the Helen M. Thompson Award for an Emerging Music
Director.
For more information on the Project Inclusion Conducting Fellowship program, visit ChicagoSinfonietta.org or contact Dileep Gangolli, Project Inclusion Manager, at 847.902.0733.
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