[Dixielandjazz] The New World Symphony - Training musicians for the New World of Music.

[Steve Barbone]

Below is an excerpt from a NY TIMES article about The New World Symphony in
Miami. Their mission is to create the "ultimate" classical musicians while
also fielding a world class orchestra. It also trains them to find musical
jobs upon graduation and does a good job of it. Something Jazz camps and
schools might consider doing.

The complete article is very long, but perhaps also very interesting to some
on the DJML. If anyone would like the complete article, write me off list.

Perhaps trombonist and Miami list mate "El Gatto", who straddles the world
of classical and jazz, knows something about them?

Cheers,
Steve Barbone



. . .the New World Symphony, a unique cultural animal in the heart of
hedonistic South Beach, has turned auditions and other career-development
duties into the core of its mission.

In the increasingly professionalized world of modern orchestras, where
merely playing beautifully no longer guarantees musical greatness, ticket
sales or successful capital campaigns, New World has set itself a
distinctive mission: to mold graduates of elite conservatories and
university music programs into the ultimate orchestra players while also
trying to field a world-class performing ensemble. (The latest results will
be on display at Carnegie Hall on Feb. 27 and 28.) The model player is not
just a technical whiz but also a musician who can converse with the public,
meld into an ensemble, generate interesting programming ideas, schmooze with
donors and teach. 

At a time when classical music faces declining audiences and, some say,
irrelevance, the sort of mission espoused by New World is seen as crucial.

³For orchestras to survive in the current socio-economic environment,² said
Henry Fogel, president of the American Symphony Orchestra League, ³they¹re
going to have to mean something to people in the community who might never
come to a subscription concert.² . . .

(Regarding its mission) . . . It has done that job very well. Of the 676
alumni before this season started, New World said, at least 619 have jobs in
music, most of them with professional orchestras. Sixteen alumni play in the
so-called Big Five orchestras: Boston, Chicago, Cleveland, New York and
Philadelphia. More than two dozen play in other elite orchestras, like those
in Pittsburgh, St. Louis, San Francisco and Los Angeles. Others inhabit the
ranks of regional orchestras or foreign groups like the Bamberg Symphony in
Germany, the BBC Symphony in London and the Royal Stockholm Opera. .  .