Discovering young and emerging musicians with the technical expertise and cultural understanding to work in a professional orchestra has been a long-standing challenge for the West Australian Symphony Orchestra (WASO). When the orchestra decided to establish training pathways to assist young musicians to achieve their potential, it turned to energy company ConocoPhillips for support. Their partnership began in 2007 with the launch of the Orchestral Training Program.
The program develops students’ orchestral and audition skills to prepare them for life as professional classical musicians. Students are drawn from the Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts (WAAPA), the University of Western Australia and some are upper secondary students.
Mentors from WASO are assigned to participants for a year-long relationship which includes rehearsals and masterclasses with WASO. The young musicians benefit from one-on-one guidance from some of the state’s top orchestral musicians. A group phase includes sectional rehearsals, audition workshops to prepare students for professional auditions, and listening sessions to understand the needs of international conductors and soloists.
Through this process, candidates are identified for a full audition within 12 months, and if successful are added to WASO’s list of casual players to be drawn on for concerts. In 2009, the program provided 19 young, talented artists with the opportunity to work in a professional orchestral environment. The participants gain invaluable insight into what life as a professional musician is really like, which assists with a seamless transition if they are selected to join the orchestra later.
The orchestra’s musicians welcome the opportunity to develop budding musicians, and there has been a 100 per cent take up by mentors selected to participate.
The alignment with WASO’s Orchestral Training Program assists ConocoPhillips to be recognised as a valued member of the communities in which it operates. The partnership also creates opportunities for the company’s staff to connect with clients and key stakeholders (business and government) in the WASO corporate hospitality lounge. ConocoPhillips engages its employees by offering staff discounts and tickets, and by arranging special WASO performances at staff events to foster a positive working environment.
WASO and ConocoPhillips were national finalists for the Australia Council Young & Emerging Artists Award at the 2010 AbaF Awards.
Image: WASO Orchestral Training Program – Violin (L-R) Melanie Pearn, Emma Buss, Riley Skevington, Alexandra Isted, Rebecca White, Elena Phatak, Fleur Challen. Photo: Tony McDonough