Finding professional success in your ‘musotopia:’ An employability development framework for tertiary performance students

Musicians are constantly transitioning, whether from school to private tuition, between instruments and ensembles, or from tertiary institutions to the professional music industry. Researchers have demonstrated great interest in this transitional process and music career preparation, ultimately revealing that higher education music curricula are incongruous with the realities of the Australian classical music industry, inadequately preparing tertiary performing musicians for the transition to professional careers. So, what are the realities of performance careers in the Australian classical music industry and how can tertiary music students develop employability independent of existing curricula?

ANU alumna Emma Claire (Warburton) graduated with a Bachelor of Music (First Class Honours) in 2022, studying with Dr Sally Walker under the Ken and Vera Fowler Honours Scholarship, the CASS Honours Scholarship, and the Friends Bernhard Neumann Memorial Prize. Emma is a member of the newly formed CSO Kingsland Collective and ANU Orchestra, was Principal Flute with the Canberra Youth Orchestra and won positions with the Australian Romantic & Classical Orchestra National Academy 2021/2022. She has enjoyed performing in the Canberra community as a Wesley Music Scholar, soloist in the Canberra International Music Festival, and most recently in a concert titled ‘Diary of a Music Student’ with pianist/composer Ronan Apcar. Emma is also a certified BodyMinded Practitioner (Alexander Technique), participated in the prestigious Australian Youth Orchestra Orchestral Management Program 2022, and worked with Opera Australia under an AYO Arts Administration Fellowship this winter.