Beyond the Baton: What Every Conductor Needs to Know

Diane Wittry

Dec 2006 · Oxford University Press

About this ebook

Seasoned conductor Diane Wittry draws a comprehensive roadmap to a successful career in Beyond the Baton. With first-hand understanding of how the role of the conductor has changed across the years, she expertly examines the new set of duties--both on and off of the podium--that now fall upon the shoulders of the music director. From getting a job to fundraising and educational outreach, Wittry's comprehensive tips and strategies guide students and professional conductors alike through the leadership and organizational skills necessary for success. Numerous real-life examples illustrate vital skills for artistic leadership such as programming subscription, pops, and educational concerts; understanding the budget and the music director's role in funding the artistic vision; and presenting speeches, and radio and televised interviews. In informative conversations with the author, successful conductors Leonard Slatkin, Robert Spano, and JoAnn Falletta offer tips from personal experience on how music directors can work successfully with orchestras, and what their roles are with the board and the community.

About the author

Diane Wittry is currently the Music Director of both the Allentown and Norwalk Symphony Orchestras and a frequent guest conductor for numerous orchestras, both in the United States and throughout the world. She is the recipient of many honors and awards, including the American Symphony Orchestra League's 1996 Helen M. Thompson Award, which recognized her outstanding artistic leadership with a regional orchestra.