۱٫ Introduction

۲٫ Literature review

۳٫ The research’s goals

۴٫ Research methodology and discussion of case studies

۵٫ Conclusions

۶٫ References

The purpose of this paper is to discuss the symphony orchestra as a living organism in a perpetual interaction with the volatility of the nowadays environment, as a symbiosis between the goods and the services provided by a symphony orchestra’s activity. A description of the symphony orchestra’s activity, with emphasize upon German orchestras (Kulturorchester), as dominators on the classical symphony orchestras’ market. This paper aims to present some of the mission statements, the goals, the good practices identified in symphony orchestras’ management, mostly German, the typical and well-known pattern that characterizes a musician, member of an orchestra, and to describe the characteristics of today’s management. There is a special emphasis placed on the interdisciplinary activity and the collaboration with the educational institutions. The results consist of the identification of the multiple stakeholders, the opportunities and the threats, the best practices and the innovative aspects in today’s management of a symphony orchestra. “Tradition is not the worship of ashes, but the preservation of fire” Gustav Mahler

Introduction

“There is no other activity in which forty, eighty or one hundred twenty people are doing the same thing together, with a precision of a tenth of a second, starting and finishing together” (Turkov, 1998). Although the component parts of a symphony orchestra were affected by some modifications over the last 200 years, its existence is explained as a result of gradual adaptation to the requirements of the historical, political, social, educational, and cultural changes. Assuming that, the symphony orchestra is a cultural service providing organization, and a living organism, in constant interaction with the environment, being subject to internal and external pressures, which are the characteristics of their current management in order to maximize the satisfaction of all its stakeholders? The threats that generate an impact upon the symphony orchestra come mostly from outside, for example the demographic changes, the musical educational background of the population, the financing methods, global megatrends and the training and developing of the modern society. In the current world context, the existence of a symphony orchestra cannot represent a self-evident fact anymore, because it faces a number of challenges. A quick, effective and efficient response from its management system helps to increase its performance and to ensure a better future.