More than the music: perspectives on musical leadership of community ensembles

“More than the music” looks at how striving for excellence in performance relates to the way each member of a community music group feels rewarded by their attendance. We aim to explore the important discussions that are needed between conductors, players and management of these groups. Why? A mismatch of expectations and purpose between these stakeholders can lead to unhappy outcomes. Community groups, especially orchestras and bands, can be complex, and their success or otherwise can depend on the interplay of many factors. We will explore questions like: do we understand what keeps members attending? Do we, as conductors, know what is expected of us by a particular group? Is there a general understanding of what the group is about and who does what? What happens when things go wrong? Addressing these will help us build all the skills needed for these situations – remembering some skills must deal with more than the music.