Personnel Policy as of October 12, 2009

New Hampshire Music Festival
Personnel Policy

The New Hampshire Music Festival is committed to redefining its vision and mission.  In order to realize its vision, the role of musicians in the orchestra is changing:  the Festival will create a collaborative process in preparing for concert performances, introduce the concept of curators, and introduce distinguished students into the Festival for mentoring by the Festival musicians.

In order to successfully realize this change, the Festival adopts the following policy that has been developed with the participation of the Orchestra committee.

Selection of Musicians for the 2010 Season

(1)   A list of Musicians eligible for re-invitation (hereafter referred to as the “Eligible List” and musicians on that Eligible List  hereafter referred as “Incumbent Musicians”) for the 2010 season is attached.  Attached as well is a second list of Musicians who may be asked to substitute from time to time (hereafter referred to as the “Substitute List”).

(2)   In the 2010 Season, the Festival will offer employment to forty-five (45) Incumbent Musicians to be chosen from the list referenced in (1) above as follows:

a. A six-week season in 2010 to twenty (20) Incumbent Musicians.
b. A choice, up to four (4) weeks of employment in the 2010 season, to an additional twenty-five (25) Incumbent Musicians.
c. If any Incumbent Musician opts out, the Festival will continue to offer positions to  Musicians on the Eligible List  until all forty-five positions are filled with Incumbent Musicians or until that list is exhausted.

(3)   The Artistic Director of the Festival will offer six weeks of employment in the 2010 season to twenty (20) professional Musicians who are not incumbents so that there are twenty non-Incumbent Musicians employed in each week of the Festival.  The Artistic Director will determine the Musicians to whom this offer will be extended.  These musicians will be selected based on their experience in the new model and will assist Incumbent Musicians in transitioning to the new model.

The New Hampshire Music Festival is now in the planning process for its 2010 Season.   As I am sure you are aware, we held meetings throughout the summer season with the Orchestra Committee and adopted many of the ideas they presented to us as we determined how best to move forward after the end of the 2009 season.  We realize that this past summer was a difficult one for everyone and we are looking forward to a season next year when we can work together to create great music and create a successful season for you and the Festival. 

I am attaching a copy of the Personnel Policy that incorporates all the aspects of the discussions with the Orchestra Committee.  Should you have any questions relating to this letter, do not hesitate to contact me or one of the Orchestra Committee members for guidance or clarification.  I am also attaching two Lists: the first is fifty-nine (59) eligible musicians for consideration for employment in 2010 (“incumbent musicians”); the second list of ten (10) musicians are those who may be asked to substitute.  Any incumbent musician on the list of fifty-nine (59) who is not offered employment in 2010 will be added to this second substitute list as well.