Lynn Larsen, Part 1: Personnel and Orchestra Manager of the Boston Symphony Orchestra

Anthony Plog on Music

During the series of conversations I've had with people in the music business over the past 3 1/2 year, I've spoken with guests representing many aspects of music. But I haven't spoken with anybody about the give and take between orchestra management and musicians. So, who better to have on the podcast than Lynn Larsen? Lynn has been Personnel Manager (since 1988) and Orchestra Manager (since 2017) of the Boston Symphony Orchestra. Formerly, he was a fellow in the American Symphony Orchestra League management program and worked for a year with the Denver, Albuquerque, and St. Louis Symphonies. But he began his career as a horn player with the Utah Symphony, was the head of the orchestra committee, and later was also president of ICSOM (International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians) for two years, representing over 4,000 players across the United States. Lynn has a huge amount of insight into both sides of the management/player relationship, and so this is a conversation that I think will be interesting to many players (and hopefully people in management as well!)
Lynn began his life as a musician by playing second horn with the Utah Symphony for 17 years. During his time with the orchestra, he was head of the orchestra committee, so he takes us behind the scenes to show us what happens during a strike, and some potential ways of resolving one. I then ask Lynn about his time as a fellow in the American Symphony Orchestra League program, and what he learned from working with the orchestras of Denver, Albuquerque, and St. Louis. We end Part 1 with Lynn talking about his two years with ICSOM.

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