Conductors, composers and arrangers
Career Overview
This group includes those who conduct bands and orchestras, compose musical works and arrange instrumental and vocal compositions.
People in this occupational group:
- Work for symphony and chamber orchestras, bands, choirs, sound recording companies, orchestras for ballet and opera performances
- May be self-employed
Job Titles
Duties
Conductors:
- Select and interpret musical works
- Lead bands, orchestras and choirs during rehearsals and performances
Composers:
- Create musical compositions such as television and film scores, theme music, songs, symphonies and music for interactive products such as video games
Arrangers:
- Adapt and modify musical compositions to convey desired themes and to suit particular instrumental and vocal performances
Special duties
Conductors, composers and arrangers usually specialize in a particular type of music such as classical, country, jazz or popular.
Earnings
Earnings is income that workers receive in exchange for their labour. Depending on the type of employment, earnings can be in the form of wages (hourly), salaries (fixed monthly or annual) or self-employed earnings.
Work Environment
# Workers Employed
555% Employed Full Time
36%Key aspects of the work in this occupation:
- Work usually takes place in an indoor setting, but can also takes place outdoors in varied weather conditions
- Workers may be exposed to sounds loud enough to affect hearing
Career Pathways
Composers often work as arrangers.
Related Careers
Occupational Interests
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For more about occupational interests visit Skills for the Future Workforce > Characteristics.
Here are the top occupational interest(s) for this career profile:
Education, Training and Skills
- University degree in music or completion of a program at a music academy, conservatory or school of music is usually required
- A period of specialized study related to conducting, composing or arranging is usually required
- Experience as a musician is required
- Musical and creative talent and ability, as demonstrated by a portfolio of work, are important hiring criteria
Education programs in B.C.
The following program areas are related to this occupation:
- Music Related
Skills
Every job calls for a certain set of skills. Knowing those skills is the first step in finding a good career fit.
Here, you will find the 10 most relevant workplace skills. Some are more important to achieving success in a certain career than others. These skills may come naturally to you or you may need to gain them through education, training and experience.
See the list of work-related skills below, ranked in order of importance for this career. Check out the list and see if this career matches your skills—take that first step!
Giving full attention to what other people are saying, taking time to understand the points being made, asking questions as appropriate, and not interrupting at inappropriate times.
Talking to others to share information effectively.
Using logic and reasoning to identify the strengths and weaknesses of alternative solutions, conclusions or approaches to problems.
Understanding written sentences and paragraphs in work-related documents.
Considering the relative costs and benefits of potential actions to choose the most appropriate one.
Adjusting actions in relation to others' actions.
Communicating effectively in writing as appropriate for the needs of the audience.
Understanding how new information could be used to solve current and future problems in making decisions.
Keeping track of and assessing your performance, other individuals, or organizations to make improvements or take corrective action.
Convincing others to change their mind or behaviour.
Labour Market Statistics
Discover data, facts and information that have been gathered and analyzed. Learn about the characteristics of the economy and labour market in B.C.
Employment
Find out about employment types and trends by region and industry.
Employment
555Employment by Region
| Region | Employment | % Employment of this Occupation |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | 15 | 2.7% |
| Kootenay | 0 | 0.0% |
| Mainland/Southwest | 410 | 73.9% |
| North Coast and Nechako | 0 | 0.0% |
| Northeast | 0 | 0.0% |
| Thompson-Okanagan | 15 | 2.7% |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 105 | 18.9% |
Labour Market Outlook
The B.C. Labour Market Outlook is a 10-year forecast of the expected supply and demand for labour in the province. It’s usually updated every year. The purpose is to provide British Columbians with the knowledge to make informed decisions on careers, skills training, education and hiring.
Forecasted Job Openings (2024-2034)
230Forecasted Job Openings
Forecasted Employment Growth Rate
Composition of Job Openings
Job Openings by Region (2024-2034)
| Region | Job Openings | Avg. Annual Employment Growth |
|---|---|---|
| Cariboo | Not available | Not available |
| Kootenay | Not available | Not available |
| Mainland/Southwest | 190 | 1.7% |
| North Coast and Nechako | Not available | Not available |
| Northeast | Not available | Not available |
| Thompson-Okanagan | Not available | Not available |
| Vancouver Island/Coast | 40 | 0.7% |
Industry Highlights
Learn about the opportunities in B.C.'s major industries, including employment trends, earning potential, locations of work and more.
Forecasted Job Openings by Industry
| Industry | Job Openings (2024-2034) |
|---|---|
| Information, Culture and Recreation | 160 |
| Repair, Personal and Non-Profit Services | 40 |
| Educational Services | 20 |
Resources
Resource information is currently not available.
