We were lucky to catch up with Paul Helfrich recently and have shared our conversation below.

Paul , appreciate you joining us today. Can you talk to us about a project that’s meant a lot to you?

I have been fortunate to be part of several meaningful projects with symphony orchestras. I think the two most significant things that can happen to an orchestra are a new conductor and a new hall, and I have experience with both – new conductors with the Erie Philharmonic and West Virginia Symphony, and new concert halls with the West Virginia Symphony and the Orlando Philharmonic.

Of all the things I’ve done and take pride in, though, I would put guiding the Orlando Philharmonic through the COVID-19 pandemic at the top of the list. I started my position as Executive Director of the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra (OPO) on February 18, 2020…just a matter of weeks before the entire concert industry as we knew it would grind to a halt. At the OPO, we moved content on line almost immediately and were streaming new concerts by July 2020. Then, in September 2020, we returned to live performance with the first-ever concert given by a professional orchestra at an MLS soccer stadium, The Orlando Philharmonic was one of about only 25% of US orchestra to play at all in the 2020-2021 season, and one of a mere handful that offered their entire season, starting in the fall. We did this by being flexible and by redefining appropriate concert spaces. We played masked. We played distanced. We played in a wide variety of outdoor and indoor venues, including the soccer stadium, a parking lot, a city park, and a mega-church. We showed our supporters that we were not going to quit, and that we were going to find ways safely to keep the music playing. The long-term result has been a groundswell of enthusiasm and support for the orchestra and its programs.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I began studying music in junior high school and went on to earn a bachelor’s in tuba performance from Indiana University. Understanding the relative scarcity of full-time playing jobs, I drew on my verbal ability and organizational skills to move into administration. I’ve worked for five professional orchestras (Kalamazoo, MI; Erie, PA; Charleston, WV: Dayton, OH, and Orlando, FL) as well as for the Indiana University School of Music.

My job as chief executive is to be the glue that holds everything together, the hub at the center of the wheel, and the bridge that connects it all – from the artistic world of conductors and musicians, to the administrative world of the staff, to the governance role of the Board of Directors. I’m a great generalist, equally at home with a financial statement and a musical score.

I am an enthusiastic believer in music, of many styles and genres, and the people who play it. My role overall is to facilitate the work of artists and provide the platform, the firm underpinning upon which they may share their gifts. It’s been my life’s work.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Obviously I chose my career path out of a love of music. But I learned early on that the work of an arts administrator is first and foremost about people, second about money, and sometimes a distant third about the art. But that’s OK, because I’ve also learned that if you value and respect your people and your art form, and put them first in your mission, then the money will follow.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

As I touched on earlier, the big pivot was around COVID-19. We moved to the internet for meetings, donor interactions, and programming. We eschewed our traditional concert venues in favor of outdoor spaces in a world where air circulation was now as important as acoustics. It was not easy. Some may have felt we should have just waited it out, waited for the “all clear” to sound. But by showing an ongoing commitment to live performance – and, not insignificantly, to keeping our musicians and staff working and paid – we gained community esteem and significant support.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.orlandophil.org
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=1211028330
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/paul-helfrich-209a48a/

Image Credits
Paul Helfrich Brendan Lynch Priscilla Azzolini