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Linda LitWAckMusical Life / Career DevelopmentTwo Courses of ActionALLAN PULKERThese should be exciting times to be a musician: after all, theinternet has given us instant access to music of all genres andhistorical periods, all over the world; and locally a certainmagazine, The WholeNote, has made it much easier to publicizeperformances. There are innumerable role models around town —creative and hard-working Canadian musicians in the midst ofsuccessful, rewarding musical careers: soloists, chamber ensembles,orchestras.But for every success story there are scores of musicians who arestruggling. Perhaps they are content with their lives, as long as theyget to play or sing or compose, but the financial rewards of theirmusical activities are small, and many rely on a day job or teachingto get by. Is it lack of potential or talent, or is it something else thatstands in their way?There is growing recognition of this problem; and the consensusseems to be that there are two main causes of artist poverty. Thefirst is lack of knowledge of how to function in the world as aprofessional; the second has much more to do with the individualartist’s expectations and goals.The knowledge problem is being addressed in various ways invarious milieus. The National Youth Orchestra, for example, nowincludes career development in the curriculum of its summer programme;some universities now offer courses on developing a career;and there are various programmes to help opera school graduatesmake the transition from school to professional life.One of these is the International Centrefor Performing Artists (IRCPA) which hasin the past limited itself to assisting singersget a start. This month, November 12and 13, IRCPA is offering two seminarsat which a number of well-knownCanadian arts administrators, performersand music journalists will talk about theingredients of a successful music career.I spoke to Ann Summers Dossena, theirrepressible founder and director ofIRCPA, who has extended the invitationto these sessions not only to aspiring per-Ann Summers Dossena.formers but also to artist managers, agents and presenters: “Thereare not enough managers here and the ones who are here tend tolimit themselves to booking in Canada. Managers are badly needed.There are a lot of fulfilling jobs in the arts besides performing.”“What,” I asked, “will those who attend these sessions comeaway with?”“A whole lot of new ideas about how to apply themselves to getwork in today’s world as well as insight into what keeps people back,which can be as simple as not knowing how to dress appropriatelyor as subtle as a bad attitude. You need to be a good colleague. Youknow what they say: ‘Be nice to people on your way up becauseyou will meet them again on your way down!’ I’ll never forget, justbefore a concert I was presenting, one of the performers (a violinistand the nicest person you could imagine) … asking me which criticswere in attendance [because] he wanted to know whom to hateduring the performance! This is the sort of attitude which, in myopinion, holds people back.”I observe that to be an artist in our time is more like beinga self-employed entrepreneur. “Yes,” she replies. “I have foryears been telling artists that they are the CEO of their owncorporation … Years ago I gave up telling people, when they askedwhat I did, that I was in arts management and simply said that I wasin the import/export business.”The second of the two IRCPA seminars, Sunday, November 13,continued on page 58GALAS & FUNDRAISERS• Nov 03 7:30: DaCapo Singers. Gala Reception.Celebrating New Works competitionwinner, Patrick Murray. Limited tickets, reservein advance. Clay & Glass Gallery, 25 CarolineSt. N., Waterloo. 519-725-7549. $10.• Nov 05 7:00: Echo Women’s Choir. FallFling Fundraiser Square Dance. With caller LorraineSutton and live musical accompaniment.Homemade preserves for sale, home-baked pieraffle and children’s craft activities. Holy TrinityChurch, 10 Trinity Sq. 416-588-9050 x3. $10;$8(underwaged); $25(family).• Nov 11 6:00: Guelph Youth Singers.Renaissance at Cutten Fields Fundraising Event.Madrigals by the Guelph Youth Singers, talk onrenaissance paintings by Dr. Sally Hickson andItalian cuisine by chef Mathew Brook. $60 perperson, plus donation to the choir’s sustainabilityfund. Cutten Fields, 190 University Ave. E.,Guelph. 519-821-8574.admin@guelphyouthsingers.com.• Nov 26 1:00: Steppin’ Out/Eating Disordersof York Region. Joseph and the AmazingTechnicolour Dreamcoat: Fundraising Pre-ShowEvent. Reception with the cast members, silentauction, followed by performance. Proceeds toEating Disorders of York Region. Richmond HillCentre for the Performing Arts, 10268 YongeSt. $50; $30(child). 905-886-6632.• Dec 04 8:00: Canadian Folk MusicAwards. Gala & Reception. Awards presentedin 19 categories. Isabel Bader Theatre, 93Charles St. W. 416-978-8849. $40.www.folkawards.ca.COMPETITIONS• Nov 04 Application deadline: TorontoSinfonietta. Sixth Annual Young MusiciansConcerto Competition. Instruments: violin, cello,piano and woodwinds; age categories: under16; 16 to 19. Gala winners concert February18, 2012 at the Isabel Bader Theatre. For moreinformation: www.torontosinfonietta.com• Nov 07 Application deadline: NYCO. NYCOMozart Vocal Competition. Competition for artists16 to 35 takes place November 26, 2011;two Mozart arias in original keys. Gala winnersconcert March 31, 2012, in Toronto and April28, 2012, in Oakville . $75 fee to apply. Forcomplete rules and online application:http://nyco.on.ca/vocal-competition.• Nov 17 8:00: Hart House. U of T Idol. Vocalcompetition featuring U of T students, facultyand staff. Hosted by Dave Clark; his band, theWoodshed Orchestra, will accompany eachvocalist. Arbor Room, 7 Hart House Circle,University of Toronto. 416-978-5362.www.harthouse.ca. Free.D. The ETCeteras• Seeking “Keynotes” Kiwanis Music Festivalof Greater Toronto. Keynotes are thevolunteers who assist the adjudicators, collectmusic, prepare award certificates, recordresults in the master programme and phone endof-sessionresults to the Festival Office. LateFebruary 2012; two trainer/refresher sessionslate January (West end and East end). 416-686-9008. www.kiwanismusictoronto.org.LECTURES & SYMPOSIA• Applications until November 11: TorontoMendelssohn Choir. Choral Conductors’ Symposium.Participating conductors will work withNoel Edison and conduct the Mendelssohn Choirand the Elora Festival Singers; five conductorswill be accepted. January 24-28 in Toronto,concluding with a concert. Full details andapplication form available online: www.tmchoir.org/education/conductorsSymposium.cfm. 416-598-0422 x27. marketing@tmchoir.org.• Thursday mornings until December 8: OperaIs. Previews of Upcoming Operas. Lectures byIain Scott pertaining to upcoming productionsat MetOpera, COC, Opera School, etc. Arts andLetters Club, 14 Elm St. 416-486-8408.iain@opera-is.com. $200 per series of 4.• Nov 05 11:00am: Northumberland LearningConnection. Opera Brown-bag Lunch Talk:Wagner’s Siegfried. Ian Montagnes gives ahalf-hour talk ahead of Metropolitan Opera HDbroadcast. 20 Queen St., Port Hope. 905-349-3402. $5 (includes coffee/tea).• Nov 09 7:00: Silverthorn SymphonicWinds/Westmount Music Department/ArtsWestmount Music. From Practice Room toConcert Hall. Music clinic with Peter Stoll, clarinet,giving tips on how to effectively improveensemble playing. City Playhouse Theatre,1000 New Westminster Dr., Thornhill. Advanceregistration recommended:pr@silverthornwinds.ca with name and numberof attendees. Free.• Nov 12 2:00-5:00. International ResourceCentre for Performings Arts. “Career Moves”Seminar for Classical Performing Artists: Part1: Making it Happen: Working as a PerformingArtist. Panel discussion featuring presenters,managers, a publicist, critics and artists; experiences,insight and advice into what is expectedof performers in the industry today, to helpartists, professionals and semi-professionalstake their careers to the next level. $40 per dayor $70 for both (Nov 12 and 13). www.internationalresourcecentreforperformingartists.com. Toronto Centre for the Arts, 5040 YongeSt. 416-250-3708. sumintl@rogers.com.• Nov 13 2:00-5:00. International ResourceCentre for Performings Arts. “Career Moves”Seminar for Classical Performing Artists:Premiere Source for HigH quality food(416) 364-7397 www.pasqualebros.comNovember 1 – December 7, 2011 thewholenote.com 55