Internships
Mission
Symphony Internship Opportunities
Marketing & Development
Finance & Administration
Education
Non-Profit Overview
What are the Benefits?
Application Process
Mission
The mission of the Winston-Salem Symphony Association is to consistently deliver performances of the highest quality in a manner that is responsive to the needs, wants and interests of the audiences, musicians, and diverse communities it serves. The Symphony Association serves as a cultural leader in the central Piedmont region of North Carolina by entertaining, enriching and educating.
Symphony Internship Opportunities
An internship with the Winston-Salem Symphony can open doors to your future and provide management experience in a fast paced, multidisciplinary environment. The Symphony offers internships in a variety of departments covering areas such as marketing, development, public relations, education, strategic planning, and box office management. The Symphony Internship Program provides individuals who are interested in working in a nonprofit organization with valuable skills and experience. Interns are given opportunities to work in a field where personal contact with our customers is crucial to the fulfillment of our mission. The Internship Program places interns in an environment where they will be given opportunities to apply their training.
Working with this 64-year old, 2.5 million-dollar organization will expose students to all aspects of non-profit management and allow them to get involved in the Winston-Salem community, get to know its leaders, and aid in downtown revitalization. Great opportunities await in the fields of communications, design and publication layout, business and arts management The Symphony staff works with each intern to tailor an internship experience that will build his or her resume.
Internships are available on a semester-by-semester basis. They will be awarded on the basis of the Symphony’s needs and the opportunities that the applicant brings to the Symphony. If you are an undergraduate who has completed at least your freshman year, or a Graduate student with interest, please contact the Symphony to inquire about a specific area or project that you might be interested in.
The Symphony’s office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. until 5 p.m. Some concerts and activities take place on evenings and weekends. The Symphony Staff will work with your class schedule to establish a work agenda that is best for you. A minimum of five hours per week is preferred.
The Symphony staff is comprised of highly trained individuals representing a multitude of specialty areas. Together they have over 80 years of management and education experience. Areas of particular strength are business, financial and, nonprofit management, and education.
Marketing & Development
The Marketing and Development departments are responsible for securing ±$1.5 million annually. Through an integrated approach, M & D brings together the very best opportunities in marketing for our Corporate Sponsors. Interns have the opportunity to develop personal relationships with corporate clients as we create marketing and sponsorship tie-ins to our season. The Symphony is looking for individuals who are self motivated and goal oriented with strong interpersonal skills and an interest in:
• Public Relations
• Marketing Research
• Writing
• Nonprofit Management
• Internet Technology
• Grant Research and Writing
• Donor Relations and Cultivation
• Sponsor Relations and Cultivation
• Fundraising
• Grant Research and Writing
• Special Event Planning
Finance & Administration
Involvement in the daily financial and administrative operations offers exciting opportunities for first hand experience with the complexities (and rewards!) of nonprofit management. Interns in the Finance & Administration department will have opportunities to evaluate and enhance financial and administrative business processes, along with financial and operating policies and procedures. They will also have an opportunity to refine analytical, management reporting, and oral and written presentation skills. A finance and administration internship would be well suited to students with an interest in:
• General Management
• Arts Management
• Financial Management
• Human Resources Management
Education
The Education Department is responsible for over seeing the Symphony’s community and In-school programs, which include “Fun with Fiddles,” and “Mary Starling Concerts.” The Symphony also sponsors the following community outreach programs: Winston-Salem Youth Symphony, the Peter Perret Youth Talent Search, Music Lover’s Lunches and master classes with various guest artists. An internship in the Education department would be well suited to students with interest in:
• Music
• K-12 Education
• Adult Music Education
• Arts Management
• Building Social Capital
• Psychology
Non-Profit Overview
For those students who would like a more general approach to an internship, the Symphony offers an Overview Internship. This program combines aspects from all of the Symphony departments and allows interns a variety of experiences.
What are the Benefits?
• Self Development
• Professional Experience
• Community and Corporate Contacts
• Self-confidence
• Contribution to Community
• Diversity of Experience
Application Process
Please note that this is an unpaid internship program.
Please send a cover letter, copy of your resume and references to:
Mrs. E. Merritt Vale, Executive Director
Winston-Salem Symphony
201 N. Broad Street, Suite 200
Winston-Salem, North Carolina 27101
Or by email: mvale@wssymphony.org
If you are applying for a position in the Marketing or Development departments please submit with your resume the following:
• Writing samples
• Samples of Publication & Layout materials (if applicable)
