Today we speak with Aram Demirjian, Music Director of the Knoxville Symphony, about how he transitioned from an Assistant Conductor to a Music Director, how to determine what “relevant” means to your community, and why conductors are like politicians in our responsibilities, relationships, and the influence we wield.
You will learn:
- How Aram transitioned from Assistant Conductor to Music Director, and the critical skills that you learn as an assistant for a major symphony orchestra.
- Why it takes decades to become an effective conductor and leader
- Why making mistakes in any job is inevitable, and why it’s crucial that we feel good about learning from them.
- How conductors are like politicians in their responsibilities, relationships, and influence.
- How to determine what “relevant” means in your communities, and how embracing your community leads to them embracing your organization
- How Aram added contemporary music to Knoxville’s programs, and which concerts made the most impact on their audiences
- How making music can be like brewing beer
- How to plan a program that you know will only get one or zero rehearsal
For a similar discussion about making your orchestras relevant and making an impact in your community, listen to our recent episode with Teddy Abrams: How to Redefine the Orchestra for Maximum Impact.
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