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Question: How do I raise money to record my symphony!?
I have written an orchestral symphony that is 30 minutes long and I want to have it performed!. The problem is no conductor I've spoken to will perform the work unless they hear a recording!. So I have a chicken and an egg problem - can't have it performed till its recorded and can't record it unless its performed!. It costs about $10,000 to record!. How can I raise this type of money for a purely artistic endevour!?Www@QuestionHome@Com


Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Many times, the conductors won't care if they hear an "actual" recording or a good MIDI version!.!.!. try creating a file through Sibelius or Finale!. Hopefully, it is in SOME sort of computer program (yes, even classical music is going digital these days! lol) already, so it shouldn't be too hard to convert to a MIDI or MP3 file!.

Another option, is try around at a few colleges!.!.!. there are many colleges whose groups do pieces from independent composers, do sight-reading, specialize in certain genres of music, and so on!. Usually near the end of the semester, after the last concert of the season, bands and orchestras will still meet to practice sight reading as a group, or will record their favorite pieces from the semester (for sales, school advertising, or good ol' posterity)!. Try to talk to some of the conductors or department heads at state colleges where a BA is possible, or try performing arts schools!.

You may have to go to a few schools before you get a good recording (they have to be able to play it well, most likely incorporating it into their concert after sight reading!.!.!. again, talk to a college conductor), but eventually I think this would be preferable to raising $10K, and it will allow you some feedback BEFORE it goes public!.

And don't worry about the level of difficulty of the piece!.!.!. there are some crazy good college players that will have the pros running in no time! (Yipes!) Besides that, college students are paying for experience!.!.!. just because you are using them as guinnie pigs won't make that experience less valuable- to you or them!

Good luck, and I hope you find a solution!Www@QuestionHome@Com

get a job =PWww@QuestionHome@Com

take your orchestra to a mall and buskWww@QuestionHome@Com