Introduction to Making for Music Directors - Part two

Introduction to Making for Music Directors: Part two

Young Vic Theatre in partnership with Black Lives in Music

January – March 2024

Young Vic Theatre, 66 The Cut, London SE1 8LZ

Introduction to Making for Music Directors has been created in response to the lack of diversity in the pool of Music Directors (MDs) currently working in the British theatre industry, and to the continued lack of opportunities offered to those that are currently capable and ready to work.

This is the first project in an ongoing partnership between the Young Vic and Black Lives in Music, dedicated to supporting Black and Global Majority MDs through the Young Vic Creators Program.

Following on the first part of the project – an initial one-off Q&A with a panel of experienced MDs who are Black or in the Global Majority to share their experiences and offer advice, we are now taking expressions of interest for part two of the project.

You do not have to attend part one in order to sign up for part two.

What’s involved?

Part two is a series of workshops over a period of three months, aiming to demystify the role of the MD for musicians who are Black or in the Global Majority, who have an interest in developing the skills and knowledge needed to move into this role.

A schedule of the workshops are as below:

1. Thursday 25 January: An overview of the music of musical theatre, led by Wendy Gadian (Principal Lecturer & Course Leader for BA Acting (Musical Theatre) – Royal Central School of Speech & Drama, University of London)
2. Wednesday 28 February: The Black and Global Majority influence on the music of musical theatre, led by Wendy Gadian
3. Wednesday 20 March: The Music Director and Director relationship, led by Susie McKenna (freelance director, writer & actor)
4. Date TBC: The Music Director and Choreographer relationship (Dates and facilitator to be confirmed)

We are looking to put together a group of up to 10 participants who can commit to the above dates. However, we hope the project will continue to evolve beyond the initial five months, responding to the needs and interests of the selected participating group.

Each participant will receive a £150 honorarium to cover their attendance on all four workshops. There is a budget to contribute toward travels for artists who are based outside of the Greater London area.

Is this for me?

The project is aimed at professional musicians who:

• Are Black or in the Global Majority and no longer in full-time education.
• Are keen to learn or develop skills in music directing – you do not have to have previous MD experience. 
• Have good interpersonal and leadership skills
• Have the ability to read a score
• Have an eye for detail
• Are able to remain calm under pressure and demonstrate initiative and problem solving.

We will ask that participants attend as many of the sessions as possible, although we understand that the working life of a freelance musician may cause availability to change.

Please express your interest in joining part two by filling the form linked at the top of this page. The form will ask for your contact information, your experience as a musician/MD, and what you are looking to gain from the project.

The deadline to express interest is noon on Monday 11 December 2023. Successful applicants will be notified by 18 December 2023.

If you have any questions about the workshops or the application process, please contact eventscreatorsprogram@youngvic.org.

About Black Lives in Music

Black Lives in Music (BLiM), founded in October 2020, is a Black-led national organisation at the vanguard of efforts to address racial inequity in the UK Jazz and Classical music sectors. Our vision is for an inclusive music community & industry free of racism, prejudice and discrimination, where everyone can feel confident that they belong. BLiM is made up of 90+ member organisations located across the UK who are all working towards the same goal: to dismantle structural racism in our industry.

We use our data and insight to campaign for equity and support the empowerment of Black musicians and professionals to realise their aspirations. We work with organisations, ensembles and companies throughout the UK music industry, opening dialogues and building relationships in the true spirit of working together. We collaborate with all agents of the UK music industry by using our ‘critical friend’ model of working to achieve equality for people of the Global Majority.

About the facilitators

Wendy Gadian

Wendy Gadian’s career as a musical director has spanned the last three decades and has included working with many of the UK’s foremost theatre performers, choreographers, writers and directors. In 2008 she took over the leadership of the acting musical theatre course at the Royal Central School of Speech and Drama, working closely with a team of exceptional national and international freelance practitioners.  The Musicians’ Union awarded her the honorary title of Ambassador for Women in Musical Theatre in 2019. The following year she received an honorary Visiting Professorship from the Universidad del Rosario, Colombia.

Susie McKenna

Susie McKenna has been working as an actor, writer, and director for over 35 years nationally, in the West End and in television and film. She has also produced documentaries including Battle Axes for Channel 4 and Journey into Evil for ABC in the USA. Susie is currently Associate Artist at Kiln Theatre London and working as a freelance actor, director and writer.