On average, volunteer organizations are one of the most underutilized constituencies throughout the orchestra business. Mr. McManus can help orchestras develop their volunteer resources to contribute focused support beyond mere fundraising efforts. For free standing volunteer organizations, Mr. McManus can provide guidance in developing interpretive skills and serve as an invaluable educational resource. Zoos, nature conservancies, and museums have been reaping the rewards of partnering themselves with highly trained docents who have a sense of ownership in the institution; it is high time orchestras started following suit.

With the skyrocketing costs of marketing and audience development, most orchestras are overlooking their most cost efficient resource available to them in an almost endless supply; volunteers. In order to begin harnessing this potential energy source, orchestras will need guidance through unknown territory.

Moreover, established orchestral volunteer organizations are typically only aware of a fraction of the ways in which they can not only benefit their respective orchestras but learn to enhance their enjoyment of classical music and become a real partner in the artistic product.

Orchestras should be seeking to develop new volunteers from a diverse group of people from all walks of life and professions drawn together by their passion for classical music as well as the power and excitement of live orchestral performance.

Volunteers should be a vital part of any orchestra, committed to their mission and sharing in the evolution of that mission as their institution develops. Volunteers can provide valuable assistance with not only administrative duties, special events, and education programs, but also with community outreach, and public interpretation, and audience education, all while feeling a sense of satisfaction and pride in a job well done.

• Empowering volunteers into becoming your most valuable audience development partners.

• Educating volunteers about the business of orchestras; improved understanding leads to increased participation.

• Transitioning volunteers from peripheral players into stakeholders.

• Creating Key Volunteers that are more than just coordinators.

• Developing comprehensive training programs designed to create interpretive skills so they can help deliver the orchestras' mission to patrons.