Admin PA

Louis Scaglione

President and Music Director
Philadelphia Youth Orchestra
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
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Years in current position: 12
Years in the field: 20

Majors:
B.S. Music Education
M.M. Conducting

Additional Training:
Oregon Bach Festival, Eugene, Oregon
Internationale Bachakademie, Stuttgart, Germany
Europaishe Musikfest, Stuttgart, Germany 
Classical Music Seminar, Eisenstadt, Austria 
St. Petersburg Conservatory, St. Petersburg, Russia

Career Path:
Conductor, Philadelphia Young Artists Orchestra
Artistic Director and Conductor, Choral Society of Montgomery County, Pennsylvania
General Music Director, Luzerne Music Festival, New York
Adjunct Faculty, Montgomery County Community College, Pennsylvania
Faculty, Temple University Music Preparatory Division 
Artistic Director, Arts at Andalusia, Andalusia Foundation, Pennsylvania
Assistant Conductor and Chorus Master, Temple University Opera Theater, Pennsylvania
Assistant to Artistic Director, Illinois Opera Theater, University of Illinois

What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
Each day brings a new set of challenges when running a non-profit organization. The most challenging aspect of my work is to continually build upon prior success.

What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
I’ve always wanted to teach music. With a youth orchestra, I get to work with the best and brightest young people from my community.

What were your first steps toward an orchestra career?
I took advantage of all opportunities, and I sought opportunities that I believed would help guide and develop my career as a professional educator, musician, conductor, and administrator.

What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Immerse yourself in your work. Be prepared to work 24 hours a day, seven days a week.  If you don’t wish to put in that kind of time and effort, then this business is not really for you.

Any other advice?
Be prepared, conduct yourself professionally, and seek as much experience during your learning years as possible.

Valerie Whyman

Executive Director
Williamsport Symphony
Williamsport, Pennsylvania
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Years in current position: 5.5
Years in the field: 6.5

Majors:
Music and Education

Career Path:
Music teacher (11-16 year-olds) UK
Head of Music at elementary school, UK
Raising children, volunteering for non-profits as fundraiser and grant writer
Administrative assistant to orchestra

What are the most surprising, interesting or challenging aspects of your day-to-day work?
Managing donors, relationships with the volunteers (especially the board).

What inspired you to work for an orchestra?
My upbringing—I have always served on committees for the music groups I played in.  Now I am paid to do what I have done all my life.

What would you have done differently?
I wouldn’t have been a teacher, although it is invaluable as part of promoting the orchestra’s importance to educational program, managing budgets and boards, etc. Had I known this is where I would end up, I would have chosen business studies or management as a degree.

What advice would you offer to someone considering the orchestra field?
Know as much as you can— about donor cultivation, finances, investments, musicians, music, education, the community in which you live. And know as many people as you can. Be very very organized—you will be dealing with more than 100 people at once.

Any other advice?
It’s very rewarding. Very important: Keep an upbeat attitude. You are likely to encounter micro-management, criticism, refusals. It goes with the territory.