SMA Orchestral Stage Management - run in partnership with the renowned LSO at their London rehearsal base and concert hall.
Our course is led by Alan Goode, LSO's inspiring Senior SM, and takes place at St Luke's in London.
The Course Offers unique training in setting up, touring and stage managing a major orchestra, plus have been privileged to set up rehearsals for the full London Symphony Orchestra, and invited to be in the room with Andre Previn and John Williams conducting rehearsals for major concerts.
This course will cover all the considerations crucial when working with musicians, including orchestral layouts, requirements of particular instrumentalists and the logistics of touring an orchestra.
The course takes place at LSO St Luke's UBS & LSO Music Education Centre Old Street London EC1
The course starts at 9.05 (arrivals by 8.50) and finishes at 16.00
What you will need for the time on the course
- Notebook/ pen /pencil/folder for papers
- Water / Drinking water bottle - there are water fountains etc. available to top up.
- No need to wear blacks but wear general comfortable clothes to work in: there will be opportunity for some setting up of orchestra, etc., so be prepared for a little physical work.
- Soft soled shoes
- Lunch is not provided so you can either bring lunch with you if you wish, otherwise you will be able to buy food nearby.
- Tea, coffee and water will be provided at St Luke’s AM and PM. Any tea and coffee you require beforehand you will need to bring with you, please.
This is an excerpt from a piece written on what it means to be an orchestral stage manager, written by Zoe Fagg, European Youth Orchestra Stage Manager for Previous SMA Cueline.
“I’m always being asked “What’s an Orchestra Stage Manager?” or “What do they do?” and I feel incredibly lucky to be able to answer. In fact this is a fantastic time for me to be talking about my role as an Orchestral Stage Manager, when the SMA are introducing an exciting one day course about the job. […]
Other than the obvious differences of managing the players, the soloists and conductors as well as my stage management team; the fundamentals of Stage Management are in place from Health and Safety to Calls on to Stage. I find the job incredibly rewarding and I can’t speak for everyone when I say this. But I find myself receiving so much more respect and thanks from my own management and the players, then I have done in other Stage Management roles and they’re always grateful for the work that I put in.
Especially when you’re saving them from a night in a prison cell in Edinburgh, or from being kicked out of a hotel for having sex in a corridor in Singapore, or for providing a bucket, wipes, water and hair holding for a drunk percussionist being sick between pieces in the middle of a concert…and of course my favourite…giving a well-known conductor a piggy back to his hotel room after a night on the town.”
Alan Goode Comments on the LSO Blog about what an Orchestral SM (in addition to touring) can be involved in! and a permanent base) https://lso.co.uk/more/blog/987-take-120-musicians-and-put-them-in-trafalgar-square.html