Conductor

Alternate Titles: Chief Conductor, Principle Conductor, Maestro, Music Director

Job Description: Conductors lead orchestras, operas, and other musical ensembles during live performances.

Salary: $15,000-$275,000+

Become a Conductor

Concertmaster/Concertmistress

Alternate Titles: Section Leader, 1st Violinist

Job Description: Leads violin section of the orchestra, performs as a soloist, decides on bowings for the first violins, and works closely with the Conductor.

Salary: $116,468 to $615,924

Become a Concertmaster/Concertmistress

Section Leader

Alternate Titles: Principal Player, Principal

Job Description: Leads a section of the orchestra, sometimes supervises rehearsals with the section, and assigns parts to musicians.

Salary: $28,000 to $143,000+

Become a Section Leader

Section Member

Alternate Titles: Classical Musician, Section Player

Job Description: Rehearses, performs, and sometimes records with an orchestra.

Salary: $28,000 to $143,000

Become a Section Member

Opera Singer

Alternate Titles: Singer, Classical Singer, Soprano, Mezzosoprano, Tenor, Countertenor, Baritone, Bass

Job Description: An Opera Singer sings and acts out operatic pieces in a theatrical setting.

Salary: $450 to $1,000+ per performance

Become an Opera Singer

Managing Director

Alternate Titles: Executive Director

Job Description: Managing Directors oversee the orchestra’s daily operations, strategic planning, and the different departments responsible for fundraising, event production, and so on.
Salary: $90,000 to $1,500,000+

Become a Managing Director

Orchestra Manager

Alternate Titles: General Manager, Vice President of Operations

Job Description: Orchestra Managers handle contracts with musicians, venues, and vendors. They also help manage rehearsals, event logistics, and operations personnel.

Salary: $26,000 to $100,000+

Become an Orchestra Manager

Symphony Business Manager

Alternate Titles: Management Official

Job Description: Oversees orchestra’s financial affairs, prepares and distributes payroll.

Salary: $25,000 to $85,000+

Become a Symphony Business Manager

Director of Development

Alternate Titles: Fundraising Director

Job Description: Oversees philanthropic and marketing support received from individuals, corporations, foundations and government agencies on behalf of the orchestra.

Salary: $25,000 to $90,000+

Become a Director of Development

Director of Public Relations

Alternate Titles: PR Director, Director of Press Relations, Publicity Director

Job Description: Coordinates press and promotions of orchestra, may handle advertising.

Salary: $30,000 to $75,000+

Become a Director of Public Relations

Subscriptions and Ticket Service Director

Alternate Titles: Head of Subscriptions, Ticket Service Director

Job Description: Obtains new subscribers for the orchestra, renews subscribers, records ticket sales.

Salary: $24,000 to $49,000+

Become a Subscriptions and Ticket Service Director

Director of Educational Activities

Alternate Titles: Director of Education,Education Director

Job Description: Education Directors plan, coordinate, and implement an orchestra’s educational community outreach programs for local children and adults.

Salary: $24,000 to $50,000+

Become a Director of Educational Activities

Personnel Director

Alternate Titles: Personnel Manager

Job Description: Personnel Directors handle human resources for the orchestra, hiring musicians and ensuring their working conditions are up to par.

Salary: $26,000 to $65,000+

Become a Personnel Director

Orchestral Music Librarian

Alternate Titles: Performance Librarian

Job Description: Catalogs and orders music for the orchestra, assists Conductor by copying scores and sheet music.

Salary: $40,000 and up

Become an Orchestral Music Librarian