The Grant Park Music Festival in Chicago, Illinois seeks an Orchestra Librarian. A member of the Grant Park Orchestra, the Orchestra Librarian reports to the Artistic Director and Principal Conductor and the Festival’s General Manager. The Orchestra Librarian is responsible for the day-to-day operations of the orchestra library and will provide support and work closely with our Music Director, musicians, staff, other conductors and guest artists. The Orchestra Librarian will oversee a full-time library assistant during the orchestra’s 10-week season.

Key Duties and Responsibilities

MUSIC PROCUREMENT

• Arrange for the purchase or rental of materials to meet program needs for the orchestra;
• Assure that principal string parts are acquired far enough in advance for bowing;
• Check all incoming and outgoing performance materials for condition and completeness and take appropriate action to rectify any deficiencies;
• Ensure prompt return of rented or borrowed materials and adherence to copyright laws.

MUSIC PREPARATION

• Responsible for all aspects of music preparation, including but not limited to editing, proofreading, distribution, and managing the collection of and marking bowings in all string parts;
• Work with conductors and soloists to prepare music according to their specific requirements;
• Coordinate all music performance materials to assure editions are compatible in every way;
• Review all music to determine if orchestra parts meet acceptable standards (legible parts, adequate rehearsal letters, numbers, measure numbers, etc.) and take the necessary steps to correct problems that could disrupt rehearsals;
• Ensure the instrumentation listed by publisher matches physical parts and notify General Manager and Orchestra Personnel Manager of any discrepancies;
• Ensure that bowings, rehearsal letters/numbers, measure numbers, and cuts are compatible between the conductor's score, soloists’, and the players' parts;

CONCERT/REHEARSAL DUTIES

• For all rehearsals and concerts, arrive early enough to execute any changes in bowing, stage set-up, etc. Ensure that all musicians have music and, if not, provide alternative materials. Manage conductor's scores and batons; collect and store all music at conclusion of services;
• Distribute and collect music at concerts and rehearsals; assist Music Director and musicians with needs related to printed music;
• Follow up at every rehearsal with the conductor and string principals for possible bowing changes, mistakes to be corrected in the parts, bad page turns, etc.

ORCHESTRA LIBRARY MAINTENANCE

• Acquire appropriate music storage equipment and materials;
• Maintain and organize the Festival’s collection of scores and parts, including choral scores;
• Catalogue in OPAS purchased for the orchestra library and maintain accurate inventory.

ADMINISTRATIVE

• Provide program listings, instrumentation requirements, and other information to staff on request and proofread program book;
• Review and process all payments for music and supplies;
• Report to all appropriate performance licensing organizations all music performed on all concert series;
• During budgeting process, provide projected rental and purchase expense figures for planned repertoire.

OTHER

• Prepare music for all auditions

 

Candidate Qualifications

• Extensive orchestral library experience
• Ability to interact effectively with Music Director, musicians, staff, stage crew, and guest artists
• Thorough knowledge of orchestral literature, foreign terms, musical terms/signs (including bow markings) and contemporary notation
• Ability to read/write music in different clefs and transpositions, transcribe parts, copy orchestra parts legibly and quickly using hand manuscript and computer notation software
• Knowledge of current score editions and reference sources, enabling performance from materials meeting the highest scholarly standards
• Possess knowledge of copyright laws in the U.S. and knowledge/familiarity with music licensing agencies
• Self-directed, with a strong work ethic and collaborative skills
• Ability to think creatively, problem-solve in advance, meet deadlines, and work in a fast-paced environment with minimal direction
• Strong organizational skills, attention to detail, and a high degree of accuracy are essential
• Proficiency with OPAS and Microsoft Office software (especially Word and Excel)

 

Compensation

The Orchestra Librarian is considered a principal member of the Grant Park Orchestra, with compensation governed by the collective bargaining agreement between the Grant Park Orchestral Association and the Chicago Federation of Musicians. 2021 compensation included:

• Ten weeks of weekly pay of $1,767.89, inclusive of an electronic media guarantee, plus an additional salary overscale payment of 20%, to cover work during the Festival’s 10-week season.
• Six weeks of weekly pay of $1,149, inclusive of an electronic media guarantee, plus an additional salary overscale payment of 20%, to cover weeks of pre- and post-season work.
• Hourly rate of $15/hour for all work outside of the periods above.

2022 compensation is subject to negotiations with the Chicago Federation of Musicians.

Application Procedure

To apply, submit your résumé online following the instructions at www.gpmf.org/auditions.  Application deadline is January 14, 2022.

Once the application deadline has passed, all candidates will be invited to complete an advance assignment.  Based upon the results of the advance assignment, candidates will be selected by the Grant Park Orchestra audition committee to complete interviews with the committee and Festival staff, which will be conducted at a mutually agreeable time via Zoom.

Following the initial interview, the audition committee will determine a list of semifinalists, who will then complete a timed test to determine candidates who will be advanced to an in-person final round, which will include an in-library skills test as well as a final in-person interview with the audition committee, to be scheduled at a mutually agreeable time.

We hope to have the orchestra librarian named in March, 2022, with work to commence immediately upon hire, if possible. The Festival’s 2022 season runs from June 14 through August 20.

The Grant Park Music Festival is an equal opportunity employer and a proud partner orchestra of the National Alliance for Audition Support.

The Organization

Founded in 1935 as the “people’s orchestra” of Chicago to lift spirits during the Great Depression, the Grant Park Music Festival is now the longest-running free summer outdoor classical music series in the nation. Featuring the Grammy-nominated Grant Park Orchestra and award-winning Grant Park Chorus, the Festival is the centerpiece of Chicago’s summer cultural programming and a beloved local tradition, serving the city’s 2.7 million residents as well as nearly 9.6 million seasonal tourists.

With the opening of Millennium Park in 2004, the Grant Park Orchestra and Chorus found a new home in the Jay Pritzker Pavilion, a state-of-the-art outdoor concert facility designed by Frank Gehry. Today, the Festival produces a ten-week season with over 270 free music events across the city. Nearly 300,000 people attend the Festival’s mainstage concerts every summer in Millennium Park. With its informal, picnic-like atmosphere, the Festival draws a remarkably diverse audience, demonstrating that classical music can continue to attract people of all ages, backgrounds, and means. An additional 500,000 listeners enjoy live radio broadcasts and internet streaming of the Festival’s concerts via a partnership with WFMT. As one of the city’s only major cultural institutions offering community activities during the summer months, the Festival also provides an array of free enrichment and lifelong learning programs that engages 40,000 children and adults annually.

The Festival boasts a reputation for wide-ranging and adventurous repertoire that spans well-loved favorites; rarely performed masterworks; music from the present day—including regular commissions and world premieres; and innovative multidisciplinary events. Since 2014, the Festival has commissioned and world-premiered new works by Michael Gandolfi, Sebastian Currier, William Bolcom, Kenji Bunch, Aaron Jay Kernis, Ēriks Ešenvalds, Kareem Roustom, Stacy Garrop, Joel Thompson, and Lori Laitman. The Festival also regularly collaborates with rising and established guest soloists and works intentionally to elevate diverse composers and musicians, reflecting the many facets and cultures of Chicago’s metropolis.

Led by President and Chief Executive Officer Paul Winberg, the Festival operates as a unique public-private collaboration among the Grant Park Orchestral Association (established as an independent nonprofit in 2002), the City of Chicago, and the Chicago Park District. The Grant Park Orchestra was formed under the direction of Principal Conductor Nikolai Malko and has subsequently been led by such illustrious figures as Irwin Hoffman, Leonard Slatkin, David Zinman, Zdenek Macal, and Hugh Wolff, culminating with the appointment of Carlos Kalmar in 2000. The Grant Park Chorus was established in 1962 and Christopher Bell has served as Chorus Director since 2002.