Adaptistration: Orchestra Governance: The Board

The board's role is to represent the interests of the community and serve as the guardians of public trust. They are the only individuals granted the legal authority for hiring and dismissing the senior artistic and administrative leaders, typically the Music Director and Executive Director (also called CEO or President). They are responsible for the financial viability of the orchestra as well as approving collective bargaining agreements with the musicians. Most board members must pass through a nomination process to become a part of an orchestra board but they can walk away from those positions at any time. By-laws typically regulate the number of years executive board members can service, resulting in regular turnover for many leadership positions.

There are many reasons individuals join an orchestra board. A love of music and the desire to contribute components of their professional expertise to an organization which provides a valuable community service are the two most frequently mentioned. Many board members contribute significant money and time while others contribute wisdom and professional expertise. Most board members receive no training for the responsibilities they assume and accountability issues vary from state to state.

Boards typically elect several officers (sometimes referred to as trustees), who are charged with most oversight responsibilities related to ensuring that the organization is financially secure and that they are meeting the organization's stated mission goals. The executive board (also called officers) is typically divided into the following positions:

President (or chairperson)
Vice President (or vice chair)
Secretary
Treasurer

Larger orchestras may have several additional officers in addition to the regular board executives. These additional positions usually focus on a particular facet of the organization, such as marketing, education, etc. Generally, when an individual applies to become a member of the board they can expect to delver on one or all of the "Three W's": wit, wisdom, and wealth. Board members often pay a membership fee and are expected to participate in fundraising activities or provide a valuable service on a pro bono basis.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly

Good: Board members are very thoughtful, hard working, enthusiastic individuals that rise to the challenge of fundraising and take an active interest in holding the executive administrator responsible for carrying out their duties appropriately. New board members are welcomed and fresh ideas are actively sought to improve the organization and ensure that it will remain stable for years to come. They allow every constituent equal input in developing the institutional direction instead of always imposing their own will and put themselves in positions assume a certain level of personal risk in order to benefit the organization.

Bad: The reality for some boards is that they are quite often social or political in nature. It is not uncommon for a controlling 'clique' to rotate as officers for years at a time. This can discourage new board members and eventually new money soon begins to dry up.

Ugly: As stated above, most board members are woefully unprepared for the dysfunction that is an orchestra. With the vast majority of board members coming from for profit businesses, many find it difficult to transfer that experience to a nonprofit environment. Some board officers will even use their position to fill the executive management with their friends or to hand out business favors to help increase their personal standing in the for profit realm. They take little to no interest in the stability of the organization or in matters of executive review until it is far too late.

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