Program Information Introduction Founded in 1919 as the training orchestra of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra, the Civic Orchestra of Chicago benefits from a musical alliance that is the only one of its kind among major American orchestras. A signature initiative of the CSO s Institute for Learning, Access and Training, the Civic Orchestra provides promising careerbound musicians a unique access to the musical resources of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and hands-on training experiences with the musicians of the CSO and distinguished guest conductors including CSO Music Director Riccardo Muti. Under the guidance of Principal Conductor Cliff Colnot and CSO Judson and Joyce Green Creative Consultant Yo-Yo Ma, the Civic Orchestra musicians develop as exceptional orchestral players and engaged citizen musicians, cultivating their ability to succeed in the rapidly evolving world of music in the 21st century. The Civic Orchestra s activities are designed to train the musicians to be collaborative, flexible, imaginative, and innovative in order to successfully navigate today s complex professional landscape. The Civic musicians engage in comprehensive orchestral study, innovative concert performances, and adventurous projects that develop their artistic confidence and communicative music making that enable them to perform at the height of their ability. The Civic Orchestra training experiences include many additional opportunities to participate in various educational programs of the Institute for Learning, Access and Training at the Chicago Symphony Orchestra as performers and contributors to further their professional development. The importance of the Civic Orchestra s role in the general community is underscored by its commitment to present concerts of the highest quality at no charge to the public. In addition to the critically acclaimed live concerts at Symphony Center, Civic Orchestra performances can be heard locally on WFMT (98.7 FM) and by nearly three million listeners in nationally syndicated radio broadcasts on more than ninety broadcast outlets in twenty-five states, which are made possible through a generous gift from the Elizabeth F. Cheney Foundation. Civic Orchestra musicians go on to engage with many of the most prestigious professional institutions around the world, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. More than 15 percent of the current members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra are Civic alumni. Hundreds of additional Civic alumni are currently active leaders in the field of music. Regular Member Benefits Regular Member positions are offered on a season-by-season basis for up to two consecutive seasons. Regular Members are required to commit to all scheduled rehearsals and concerts outlined in the Season Schedule. Regular Members receive a stipend of $6,900 per season, paid through CSO payroll on a semi-monthly basis. The stipend is intended to assist members with some of their living expenses during their training in the Civic Orchestra. Additional stipend support is provided to members who hold principal string positions in the orchestra. In addition to scheduled sectionals with CSO coaches, Regular Members are eligible to receive chamber and individual coaching from musicians of the CSO. Additional musical instruction with the Principal Conductor is also available, on a limited first-come, first-served basis. Special workshops and master classes with CSO members or guest artists will be available as opportunities arise. Regular Members also receive complimentary tickets to select CSO concerts and other performances at Symphony Center. Tickets to all Civic Orchestra season concerts are also provided on a complimentary basis at the request of the members. Spaces at Symphony Center are available for Regular Members for individual practice and Civic chamber rehearsals. All Regular Members are required to adhere to the Symphony Center Room Reservation Policies. Associate Member Benefits
Associate members receive one-year terms, and are contacted to perform with the Civic Orchestra on an as-needed basis. When opportunities arise, Associate Members will be asked to participate in concert cycles in their entirety. The Civic Orchestra does not generally engage Associate Members for single rehearsals. If and when a Regular Member leaves a position at any time during the season, an Associate Member may be called upon to fill the vacant position. It is therefore important for Associate Members to keep the Civic Orchestra and Training Programs office notified of any contact information changes. In almost all cases the Associate Members are first-call extra/substitute players; however, the administrative staff and Principal Conductor reserve the right to hire former Civic members or outside players if necessary. The amount of stipend provided for performance with Civic Orchestra as an Associate Member will vary based on the type of concert cycle. The Civic Orchestra does not provide reimbursement for travel or accommodation expenses. Associate Members will receive invitations to attend special workshops and/or master classes as opportunities arise, and are also eligible to receive complimentary tickets to select CSO concerts and other performances at Symphony Center. Complimentary tickets to all Civic Orchestra season concerts are also provided at the request of the members. With advance notice to the administrative staff, Associate Members may observe Civic Orchestra rehearsals throughout the season. MusiCorps All Regular and Associate Members of the Civic Orchestra are eligible to audition for MusiCorps, an access program through which members have the opportunity to perform and mentor at community sites serving diverse constituencies in order to promote awareness and appreciation for music, and encourage audience development. Musicians selected to participate in MusiCorps activities receive an annual stipend designated for MusiCorps members. There is a separate application and audition process for MusiCorps. Civic Orchestra Chamber Concerts All Regular and Associate Members are encouraged to form chamber ensembles and participate in chamber concerts at Symphony Center, performances almost entirely organized and produced by the musicians. The Civic Orchestra members are invited to self-select the ensemble personnel as well as concert programming, and create consistent rehearsal schedules throughout the season. No outside musician may take part in chamber ensembles until all Regular and Associate Members on a given instrument have been asked to participate. As part of the performance preparation, the Principal Conductor must hear and approve all chamber ensembles before public performances. Civic Orchestra and Training Programs administrative staff will assist in securing rehearsal and performance spaces and coordinating coaching sessions with the Principal Conductor. Member Contact Information All Civic Orchestra members must keep their contact information up-to-date with the Civic Orchestra and Training Programs Office. The Contact Information Change form is available at www.cso.org/civicmusician. Accurate and complete contact information allows the Civic office to keep all members informed of pertinent information. The Civic office relies on each member to check his or her email regularly, as most of the rehearsal and concert updates are shared electronically. Civic ID/Access Card Each Regular Member will be given an ID card which also serves as access card to various rehearsal spaces at Symphony Center. At the beginning of the season all Regular Members must have their photo taken for this ID card. Regular Members must carry their ID cards at all times while participating in Civic Orchestra or CSOA related activities. Security will ask to see the card to go to rehearsal spaces. The card can also be used for discounts at tesori and Symphony Store; to acquire student rate tickets to concerts in Symphony Center; and to visit the Rosenthal Archives. Civic Scholars Many Civic musicians will be chosen as Scholars, recognized by a donor s name who underwrites the musicians annual stipend. Donors may request certain criteria that determines who is selected. Each season, an annual dinner will take place in September or October where the Civic scholars can meet these donors. Other meetings or contact with donors may be arranged for Civic Scholars throughout the year.
Coaching from CSO Musicians At least one sectional with a CSO coach is scheduled for each of the Orchestra Hall concert cycle. CSO coaches also offer master classes and/or workshops to enhance the Civic musicians repertoire study and audition preparation. Regular members may qualify to receive one (1) individual coaching with a CSO musician paid for by the Civic Orchestra. Chamber ensembles preparing for Civic chamber concerts may also request chamber coaching from CSO musicians. Opportunity for additional musical instruction with Principal Conductor is available on a limited first-come first-served basis. String Principal Auditions At the beginning of each season, the Civic Orchestra holds auditions for string principal positions. Musicians who are designated as Concertmaster or Principal serve in the position for one season only. All 1 st year or 2 nd year Regular Member string players are eligible to apply. A current principal may audition again if desired, however, a second term is not guaranteed. There is an additional stipend of $2,180 per season per position, as well as added responsibilities and perfect attendance requirement. String principal players are not permitted to take absences for any reason other than personal or family emergencies. If two players are selected as co-principals, the principal player stipend and responsibilities will be divided appropriately. Principal Player Responsibilities Principal players represent their sections, communicate directly with the conductor during rehearsals about musical issues, and generally work to facilitate communication and smooth operation within the section. Musicians who are assigned to principal positions in any given work are expected to advise the Civic Coordinator of any additional instruments needed for the assigned repertoire and to ensure that those instruments are present for all rehearsals and concerts. String principals will be required to meet with one another in advance of music distribution to work out bowings for the repertoire. String principals may also be required to meet and rehearse with the Principal Conductor before the first orchestra rehearsal. String principal players are expected to continuously coordinate with one another in regards to bowings and other musical considerations; ensure that all bowings are clearly marked in parts; and ensure that all bowings are final before the dress rehearsal, except for changes requested by the conductor. Concert Cycles and Length of Services A concert cycle refers to all full orchestra concerts and events that pertain to a given program. A typical concert cycle consists of a combination of the following: One (1) sectional, two (2) split rehearsals, three (3) full rehearsals with Civic principal conductor, three (3) full rehearsals with guest conductor, one (1) dress rehearsal/sound check, and concert(s). A short cycle is generally comprised of three (3) full rehearsals with guest conductor, one (1) dress rehearsal/sound check, and concert(s). Split rehearsals and full rehearsals are three (3) hours in duration with one twenty (20) minute break. The twenty (20) minute break may be split into two ten (10) minute breaks at the discretion of the conductor. Dress rehearsals are generally one (1) hour in length and take place on the day of the performance. Sectionals with CSO coaches are two (2) hours long with one ten (10) minute break. Tuning The Civic Orchestra tunes to A=440. At rehearsals and concerts, four A s are given for each section in the following order: 1. Woodwind, 2. Brass/Percussion, 3. Double Bass, 4. All Strings. Musicians should tune carefully, quietly and swiftly with their own section and not while another section is tuning. Concert Dress Code Professional, modest, clean and pressed attire is expected of all members, including good personal hygiene without cologne or perfume. Musicians not meeting the dress code requirements are subject to disciplinary action. Evening Concert Attire: WOMEN All black formal attire. Solid black long dress; or black blouse (long or ¾ length sleeves) with long black slacks or long
skirt no higher than two inches above ankle and slit below knee. Black closed-toe dress shoes with black hosiery. Solid black suit with black dress shirt is also acceptable. Deep necklines, dance- or exercise-style clothing, black denim, black t-shirts or sweaters are not acceptable. MEN Black tuxedo jacket and pants (no tails); clean and pressed white tuxedo shirt, black bow tie, black calf-length socks and black dress shoes (polished). Matinee Concert Attire: WOMEN Same as Evening Concert Attire. MEN Dark suit (navy or black; no light gray), clean and pressed white dress shirt, long tie (colors welcome), black calf-length socks and black dress shoes (polished). Seating Assignments The CSO coaches determine the seating in consultation with the principal conductor and director of Civic Orchestra. All seating assignments are made on a rotational basis, except for designated string principals and first stand players. Percussion part assignments are made by the principal percussion designated by the CSO coach for each concert cycle. Auxiliary Instruments The Civic Orchestra owns various auxiliary wind instruments for use by its members for Civic related services. Musicians assigned to auxiliary parts who need to borrow the required instrument should contact the Coordinator of Civic Orchestra and Training Programs. The Civic Orchestra will consider requests to borrow Civic s auxiliary instruments for professional auditions on a limited individual case-by-case basis, given that the instrument usage does not impose a potential conflict with Civic Orchestra services. The eligibility to borrow the auxiliary instruments will be limited to current Regular Members who directly belong in the particular section to which auxiliary instrument is related. Civic musicians may not borrow Civic s auxiliary instruments for non-civic related performance opportunities. Guests at Civic Rehearsals Unless otherwise noted, all Civic rehearsals are closed to the public. Civic musicians who wish to bring guests to observe a Civic rehearsal must notify the Civic Coordinator in advance. Arriving at a rehearsal with unexpected guests is strongly discouraged. Recording of Concert Performances Full orchestra Civic concerts held at Symphony Center are recorded. An email will be sent out when CDs are available, with instructions on ordering the CDs. Each CD costs $5. Civic musicians are not permitted to record Civic rehearsals and/or concerts. Tickets to Civic Orchestra Concerts Each Civic member may receive complimentary tickets upon request to Civic performances, excluding special events. Members may request Civic concert tickets directly to the Civic Orchestra Coordinator. For performances at other venues, ticket availability will be determined by seating capacity. Complimentary Tickets to CSO and other Symphony Center Concerts Members of the Civic Orchestra (both regular and associate) frequently receive complimentary tickets to select performances at Symphony Center. When tickets are available, members of the Civic Orchestra will receive an email from the Civic Coordinator. Civic members should then reply to the email directly to reserve up to two (2) tickets for each performance. A confirmation email will be sent to the Civic musicians who have secured tickets. Reservations must be made by 3:00pm the day before the concert, and by 3:00pm on Friday for all weekend performances. Tickets may be picked up within one (1) to two (2) hours before the performance starts. Complimentary tickets are for the use of Civic musicians and their guests only. Those who do not use reserved tickets will receive a warning letter at the first occurrence. After the 2nd occurrence the complimentary ticket privilege will be denied to that Civic member. Student Tickets With Civic ID cards, regular members of the Civic Orchestra can take advantage of special pricing for many Symphony Center
events that are available to students. Student tickets can be purchased online through the CSO s ticketing system, and day-ofconcert tickets can be purchased in person at the box office. Additionally, certain concert series are available at a discounted subscription rate. Comprehensive information and instructions are available at http://cso.org/students. When purchasing or picking up student tickets, Civic musicians must present their Civic ID cards. Single Ticket Discounts Civic regular members also have the option to purchase single tickets at a 25% discount to CSO, SCP, and Special concerts. The purchase of 25% discounted single tickets should be done through the ticketing office, at the Box Office window, or by calling 312-294-3000. To gain access to the ticketing office, go to the Adams Street security desk and request that the security guard call the ticketing office so that a ticketing representative can assist you. If tickets are purchased at the Box Office window they must be made no later than 1 hour prior to performance. If tickets are purchased over the phone, Civic members must present their Civic IDs when picking up the tickets at the Box Office window. If tickets are purchased at the Box Office, members must present their Civic IDs when purchasing tickets. Civic members themselves must use one ticket per concert in each ticket order. Subscription Discounts Civic members will receive a 50% discount when purchasing most subscriptions. The following series are not available for 50% off: Beyond the Score Sunday Matinees, Family Matinee Series, Friday Night at the Movies, ClassicEncounter, and Create Your Own Series. Additionally, the 50% off discount does not apply to short series. Note that the Beyond the Score Friday Matinee Series is available for 50% off. Exchanges will be honored at the 50% discounted price. Civic members may exchange out of and between blackout dates, but may not exchange into a blackout date from a non-blackout date. However, Civic members who wish to add on single tickets to their series will receive the regular subscriber-preferred add-on prices. The purchase of 50% discounted subscriptions should be done by calling 312-294-3000 or by visiting the Ticketing Office. To gain access to the Ticketing Office, go to the Adams Street security desk and request that the security guard call the Ticketing Office so that a Ticketing representative can assist you. Discounted subscription purchases are not available at the Box Office window. Each member must present his or her own ID when purchasing a subscription and the use of multiple ID s is not allowed. Concert Attendance and Ticket Privileges When attending concerts at Symphony Center as audience members, Civic musicians are expected to dress and behave appropriately. Those who misuse, abuse, or make improper use of the complimentary or discounted ticket benefits, or inappropriate and unprofessional behavior by Civic members and/or their guests at a concert event may result in loss of ticket privileges and are subject to disciplinary action at the discretion of the Director of Civic Orchestra and Training Programs. Chicago Transit Card Program If you wish to participate in the Chicago Transit Program, you may have one of the following amounts deducted from one paycheck monthly on a pre-tax basis to be added to a CTA card: $30, $35, $50, $70, and $100 (30-day pass). Transit cards are available approximately one month after you apply. In addition, pre-tax deductions may be taken for Metra Mass Transit. Please see the musician resource web site at www.cso.org/civicmusician to download this form. Discount Parking Civic musicians can purchase discounted parking by calling 312-294-3000 and request to purchase a parking card. Please indicate that you are a member of the Civic Orchestra. You can obtain a parking card by purchasing a minimum of three parks. Please allow about a two-week processing time before the first use. If you have previously purchased a parking card, your current card will be reloaded with your purchase amount. Please allow at least 72 hours after payment before first use. The discount rate at Grant Park South is $12.50 per park, or at 350 E. Monroe, $9 per park. These discount rates are good for a maximum of 8 hrs. If a single park is longer than 8hrs, another unit of park will be removed from your card.