Full name/age/job title: 

Marianna Hay, 25, Director of Programme Development Music First, Musical Director and Founder, The National Orchestra for All.

Music First is an organisation that aims to transform young lives by providing an exciting music education experience for disadvantaged 7-to-16-year-olds in challenging schools and areas that need it most.

The National Orchestra for All is a three-way collaborative project between Music First, Teach First and the education programme Achievement for All. In 2011, the National Orchestra for All will take the form of residential course bringing together young people from all over the country to play together as an orchestra. We believe that every child should have this experience regardless of socio-economic background or instrument level.

Please give us an overview of your average day.

No two days are ever the same! However, on an average day I will attend two to three meetings on behalf of Music First with one of our partners (The Royal Academy of Music or The Orchestra of the Age of Enlightenment), have phone meetings throughout the course of the day with organisations such as The Children’s University, conduct the Music First Chamber Orchestra, interview prospective tutors for the National Orchestra for All, attend fundraising and strategy committee meetings and operations committee meetings for Music First.

What is the most common misconception about your job?

That there are lots of us working on this full-time and that I have a whole team of people to help round the clock. Sadly not the case.

What is the hardest thing about your role?

Managing my diary! Also, not beating myself up when I make a mistake – I genuinely learn how to do something new every day.

When did you decide what you wanted to do with your life and how did you set out to achieve it?

I started out my professional career as a music teacher through the graduate programme, Teach First. Teach First is an incredible scheme that puts graduates into some of the most challenging schools in the country for two years after only six weeks of training. It was through working with the young people in my school that my eyes were opened to the inequalities that are inherent in the UK education system and I was determined to do whatever I could to overcome this through my specialism – music.

What can you do to get a head start?

Volunteer whenever you can, especially at university when you have more time on your hands. If you have an idea, don’t sit back and wait for it to happen – get out there and do it!

Could you describe the creative element to your job?

Conducting rehearsals and concerts, programming for concerts, constantly generating new ideas and building relationships with exciting organisations.

What’s the one thing you wish you had known at the start of your career that you know now?

How to use excel.

It would also have been good to know that even when I am doing something I love, I can still have bad days and the way through is to remind myself how much has been achieved in order to push forward and motivate myself to continue.

Which organisations/websites/resources do you think would be useful for people entering your industry?

I would check out the Teach First website if you are interested in working with children in challenging schools, Rheingold music jobs website if you are more interested in developing as a musician and the Times Education Supplement always has a number of interesting and thought-provoking articles (as well as a big jobs section). 

Also, sign up to the blog of Mathew Taylor – Chief Executive of the Royal Society of Arts and general legend – for great discussions around topical social issues. And, of course, check out our website – lots more information on there about what we are up to and job opportunities etc!

Would you like to be featured in Job of the Week? If you work in the creative industries and would love to share your advice, expertise and experience with IdeasTap members, get in touch with our deputy editor at Luiza@ideastap.com.