Tuesday’s (3/29) Boston University Today includes an interview about careers in arts administration with Rita Shapiro, executive director of the National Symphony Orchestra in Washington, D.C. Excerpts from the interview: “Q: How did your career path lead you to your current position? When I decided that I didn’t want to continue pursuing a career as a professional singer I took a job in fundraising at the Boston Symphony Orchestra, which led to a job at the Cleveland Orchestra. I started at the National Symphony as general manager in 2001, and my title became executive director in 2002. Q: How can musicians prepare for a career in arts administration? It helps to have an openness and willingness to look around and see how things run.… Young musicians coming out of conservatory training need to be more entrepreneurial in promoting their own careers, through social media and persistence beyond the practice room. Q: What types of questions do you ask while interviewing applicants? … I really want to know what they’re passionate about.… I like people … with a curiosity and a real love of working in the performing arts.” Shapiro holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees from BU.
Posted March 30, 2016
