Ascenso, S. and McCormick, J. and Perkins, R. (2019) Leadership in the transition from music student to professional musician: the Civic Orchestra of Chicago Fellowship. In: Leadership of Pedagogy and Curriculum in Higher Music Education. Routledge, pp. 18-38. ISBN 9780367077327 (hardback) 9780367077334 (paperback) 9780429022418 (e-book)
Abstract
The transition from student to professional has proven to be one of the most challenging phases for musicians. The Civic Fellowship at the Civic Orchestra of Chicago –the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra –is an innovative programme for recent graduates aimed at holistic development through a portfolio of opportunities in orchestral, educational and community contexts, with leadership as their common denominator. This chapter presents the results of a study designed to understand how participants experienced the fellowship and to ascertain its value as a tool for learning enhancement in the transition to professional. The eight musicians chosen for the 2014/2015 season took part in the study: four males and four females, aged between 22 and 30 years. Data was collected through semi-structured interviews. Interpretative phenomenological analysis revealed the experience of the programme to be accounted for through seven overarching themes: (1) perspective; (2) ‘the musician as citizen’; (3) professional skills; (4) social skills; (5) self; (6) wellbeing; and mediated by (7) the process of getting out of the conservatoire comfort zone. Results suggest the Civic Fellowship model represents a strong example of a creative career advancement initiative that meets key developmental and educational needs of transition musicians.
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