CM Interview Series: Noreen Murdock

The Composed Musician’s Interview Series highlights passionate, purposeful musicians with entrepreneurial + creative mojo.

Today, I’m stoked to interview the amazing Noreen Murdock, one of the youngest orchestra directors in America.

She’s the Executive Director of Salem Chamber Orchestra in Salem, Oregon and a collaborative pianist. She has a BA in Music from Willamette University and a MBA from Willamette University’s Atkinson Graduate School of Management. Noreen worked as a staff accompanist at Willamette University from 2005-2008 and continues to freelance in the greater Salem area. Noreen also serves as the board president of Willamette Girlchoir, a private nonprofit k-12 choir for girls in the Mid-Willamette Valley. Outside of her work, Noreen is training for her first marathon and is an avid San Francisco Giants fan.

What are the top five characteristics/skills musicians should have?

• Talent/Ability. I don’t mean prodigal talent, as in, if you weren’t born with it just give up now, I just mean you actually have to be trained and competent at your instrument. Levels of competency are different for different performance goals.
• Reliability. In both musicianship and in business. I realize that’s a pretty big blanket statement that encompasses several skills, but I think the fundamental point is the same.
• Interpersonal skills. No one wants to hire a jerk, no matter how talented you are. I suppose, if you’re super talented, people may be willing to put up with more, but it’s dangerous to go there. Not to say that you have to be nice to everyone all the time or be disingenuous, but maintaining good relationships is key to being hired again.  In fact, many people will re-hire you even if you’re not a super-star just because you were reliable and a pleasure to work with.
• Have high standards. Don’t phone it in. Even if a gig is “easy,” make sure you know the music, technically and musically. Don’t wait until you’re actually at the rehearsal to look at your music for the first time, even if you can probably pull it off, unless you’re SURE you know it.
• Entrepreneurship. Assuming you want to be a full time musician, or at least making enough money to be a substantial part of your income, you need to have some go-get-’em kind of gumption.

What’s your mantra/fave quote that keeps you going?

“The music business is a cruel and shallow money trench, a long plastic hallway where thieves and pimps run free, and good men die like dogs. There’s also a negative side.” – Hunter S. Thompson

OK, so maybe that’s not a quote that “keeps me going,” but I love it. It reminds me to look at the bright side of things and keep a sense of humor.

It’s so easy to get stressed out in the music business and sometimes you have to remind yourself that essentially you’re in the business of making people happy. Most people are jealous of such a career in that you’re doing something that you love (one would hope so, anyways…).

What’s one business tip you’d give to professional musicians?

Be early to rehearsal. It’s amazing how that one thing can set the tone.

What advice would you give to young musicians about finding their place in the musical community?

Take every opportunity, within reason, possible; you never know what doors will open that will lead you to your niche. Certainly don’t overload yourself, and don’t take something that you know you really can’t do, but push yourself and expand your boundaries.

What gives you a feeling of purpose?

Helping people. I think that’s why I love accompanying students, because I’m not just playing for myself, but playing to support a young musician in their own studies. I also think that’s why I love the administration side as well – I’m helping make it possible to bring live, local orchestral and chamber music to our community. That’s pretty cool.

Connect

Do you know a musician with creative + entrepreneurial mojo that we should all know about? Let me know at nancy@thecomposedmusician.com