Leanne Nicholls, founder and artistic director of the City Chamber Orchestra of Hong Kong, says the key to success is dedication to the job
BESIDES BEING a musician in the orchestra, I am also responsible for the logistics of organising concerts. There are many things that need to be done. I handle ticket inquiries from the public and questions from the media. I also write the concert leaflets and programme notes.
I have to contact members of the orchestra to arrange rehearsals. I need to talk to my marketing manager to discuss fund-raising and budgeting.
Handling many different roles involves hard work, as most orchestras have several people doing these jobs.
After dropping my children at school every day, I practise my music at home and usually arrive at the office at about 10am. I first check my e-mails, in case I have not checked them at home. The e-mails are often inquiries about the orchestra's performances, from musicians and conductors. Even artistes from abroad, who want to come and work here, write to us.
We perform once a month and each performance needs about four or five rehearsals. These rehearsals are usually held at the Hong Kong Cultural Centre. Depending on the event, there can be between five and 40 musicians performing.
If we have famous musicians performing in an event, I personally go to the airport to receive them. I would most probably have been communicating with them for up to two years prior to their arrival. In such cases, I regard meeting them as an essential courtesy.
