A number of MU members have expressed concern that no payment is offered for this project, which culminates in a performance at the Royal Festival Hall on Sunday 8 March.
The Southbank Centre’s Music Director, Gillian Moore, has written to us clarifying that the orchestra is intended as a learning experience for amateur musicians and students, and any professional musicians invited to take part have been paid appropriately.
She writes:
“The WOW Orchestra is a learning/developmental opportunity aimed at students and amateur musicians.
The musicians who sign up for the WOW orchestra are offered specific development opportunities. This year, these include:
1. The opportunity to attend a women conductors' workshop with Marin Alsop and a Q and A session with Marin on Leadership;
2. The addition (for the first time and by request of orchestra members from the past two years) of some paid professional musicians with positions in London orchestras to the WOW orchestra, providing 'side by side' benefits;
3. Surgeries with these professional musicians;
4. Further opportunities throughout the year, including more training/networking sessions as well as free tickets and access to rehearsals.
Please be assured that Southbank Centre, as a major employer of musicians and partner of four Resident Orchestras and one Associate Orchestra, is totally committed to the fair remuneration of musicians. We are also committed to training opportunities through our programmes such as Voicelab, Tomorrow's Warriors, Young Orchestra for London, our partnerships with UK Conservatoires and the National Youth Orchestra.”