Violinists For Hire

In the classical music landscape, much attention is given to the major outfits: The Metropolitan Opera, The New York Philharmonic, the names on the posters at Carnegie Hall. But beneath those institutions lies a much different economy -- and that is the world of the classically-trained freelancer. Lately, many of the regional symphonies, Broadway pits and jingle houses that freelancers rely on have cut back or shuttered, forcing musicians to get a bit more creative. To explain the state of things for classical freelancers we’re joined by New York Times reporter Daniel J. Wakin and freelance violinist Victoria Paterson.