Music director - Revision history

imported>AdellBarreto6: corrected information and added references for accuracy

2026-02-01T17:10:49Z

corrected information and added references for accuracy

← Older revision		Revision as of 22:40, 1 February 2026
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	A '''music~~(al)~~ director''' or '''director of music''' is ~~the~~ person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/musical_director\|title=musical director – Definition of musical director in US English by Oxford Dictionaries\|website=Oxford Dictionaries – English}}</ref> This would include the [[artistic director]] and usually chief conductor of an [[orchestra]] or [[concert band]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/music-director\|title=Music director definition and meaning – Collins English Dictionary\|website=www.collinsdictionary.com}}</ref> the director of music of a film, the director of music at a radio station, the person in charge of musical activities or the head of the music department in a school,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music+director\|title=Definition of Music Director\|website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref> the coordinator of the musical ensembles in a university, college, or institution<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/arts/music/19russ.html\|title=Celebrating Undefinable Songwriting\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|author=Ben Ratliff\|author-link=Ben Ratliff\|date=19 May 2008\|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> (but not usually the head of the academic music department), the head [[bandmaster]] of a military band, the head [[organist]] and [[choirmaster]] of a church, or an [[organist and master of the choristers]] (the title given to a director of music at a cathedral, particularly in England).		{{Short description\|Person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance}}
			{{Merge from\|Artistic director (music)\|discuss=Talk:Music_director#Another_merge\|date=February 2026}}
			A '''music director''', '''musical director''' or '''director of music''' is a person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization.<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/musical_director\|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190121010825/https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/musical_director\|url-status=dead\|archive-date=January 21, 2019\|title=musical director – Definition of musical director in US English by Oxford Dictionaries\|website=Oxford Dictionaries – English}}</ref> This would include the [[artistic director]] and usually chief conductor of an [[orchestra]] or [[concert band]],<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/music-director\|title=Music director definition and meaning – Collins English Dictionary\|website=www.collinsdictionary.com}}</ref> the director of music of a film, the director of music at a radio station, the person in charge of musical activities or the head of the music department in a school,<ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music+director\|title=Definition of Music Director\|website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref> the coordinator of the musical ensembles in a university, college, or institution<ref>{{cite news\|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/arts/music/19russ.html\|title=Celebrating Undefinable Songwriting\|work=[[The New York Times]]\|author=Ben Ratliff\|author-link=Ben Ratliff\|date=19 May 2008\|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> (but not usually the head of the academic music department), the head [[bandmaster]] of a military band, the head [[organist]] and [[choirmaster]] of a church, or an [[organist and master of the choristers]] (the title given to a director of music at a cathedral, particularly in England).

	==Orchestra==		==Orchestra==
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	===India===		===India===
	{{Further\|Music of Bollywood#Production}}		{{Further\|Music of Bollywood#Production}}
	In India, where many films are produced as [[musical film\|musical]]s, the term "music director" is commonly used for the composer and music producer of the songs and score used in the film. Their roles also entail arranging, mastering, mixing and supervising recording of film music with conducting and orchestration. Usually, another artist will receive the credit for the lyrics of the songs. '		In India, where many films are produced as [[musical film\|musical]]s, the term "music director" is commonly used for the composer and music producer of the songs and score used in the film.<ref>{{Cite book \|last=Slobin \|first=Mark \|title=Global Soundtracks: Worlds of Film Music \|date=September 29, 2008 \|publisher=[[Wesleyan University Press]] \|isbn=9780819568823 \|pages=123}}</ref> Their roles also entail arranging, mastering, mixing and supervising recording of film music with conducting and orchestration. Usually, another artist will receive the credit for the lyrics of the songs.{{cn\|date=December 2025}}

	===Theatrical productions===		===Theatrical productions===
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	==Pop music==		==Pop music==
	In pop music, a musical director or "MD" is responsible for supervising the musical arrangements and personnel for a touring artist. This can include festivals and televised performances as well as those at traditional on-stage venues. In the modern era, the sound of a studio recording is often impossible or impractical to reproduce on stage, and it is the music director's job to assemble musicians and arrangements to adapt that material to a live setting (which may or may not include playback of prerecorded tracks). The music director generally leads rehearsals as well as each performance, allowing the lead artist to focus on performing.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Dias, Mike\|title=What Exactly Does A Music Director Do?\|url=http://themusicindustryinsider.com/how-do-i-become-a-music-director/\|date=22 July 2013\|publisher=Inside\|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine\|title=Miley Cyrus' Music Director Talks Bangerz Tour Behind-the-Scenes\|url=https://www.billboard.com/~~articles/columns~~/pop~~-shop/6077648~~/miley-cyrus-bangerz-tour-behind-the-scenes\|date=8 May 2014\|author=Payne, Chris\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/how-to-find-work-as-a-drummer-and-musical-director-604586\|title=How to find work as a drummer and musical director\|author=Chamberlain, Richard\|date=21 January 2014\|access-date=27 February 2018\|publisher=Music Radar}}</ref>		In pop music, a musical director or "MD" is responsible for supervising the musical arrangements and personnel for a touring artist. This can include festivals and televised performances as well as those at traditional on-stage venues. In the modern era, the sound of a studio recording is often impossible or impractical to reproduce on stage, and it is the music director's job to assemble musicians and arrangements to adapt that material to a live setting (which may or may not include playback of prerecorded tracks). The music director generally leads rehearsals as well as each performance, allowing the lead artist to focus on performing.<ref>{{cite web\|author=Dias, Mike\|title=What Exactly Does A Music Director Do?\|url=http://themusicindustryinsider.com/how-do-i-become-a-music-director/\|date=22 July 2013\|publisher=Inside\|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine\|title=Miley Cyrus' Music Director Talks Bangerz Tour Behind-the-Scenes\|url=https://www.billboard.com/music/pop/miley-cyrus-bangerz-tour-behind-the-scenes-6077648/\|date=8 May 2014\|author=Payne, Chris\|magazine=Billboard\|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web\|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/how-to-find-work-as-a-drummer-and-musical-director-604586\|title=How to find work as a drummer and musical director\|author=Chamberlain, Richard\|date=21 January 2014\|access-date=27 February 2018\|publisher=Music Radar}}</ref>

	==Germany and Austria==		==Germany and Austria==
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	A music director (Latin: ''director musices'') was originally the title of the person responsible for music in a town in Germany and Austria. [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] was music director in [[Leipzig]], [[Georg Philipp Telemann]] and later [[Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach]] were music directors in [[Hamburg]], [[Robert Schumann]] was music director in [[Düsseldorf]].<ref>''Musikdirektor'' in: Brockhaus ''[[Riemann Musiklexikon]]'', p. 7134; Vol. 3, p. 177) [[Schott Music\|Schott]]</ref>		A music director (Latin: ''director musices'') was originally the title of the person responsible for music in a town in Germany and Austria. [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] was music director in [[Leipzig]], [[Georg Philipp Telemann]] and later [[Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach]] were music directors in [[Hamburg]], [[Robert Schumann]] was music director in [[Düsseldorf]].<ref>''Musikdirektor'' in: Brockhaus ''[[Riemann Musiklexikon]]'', p. 7134; Vol. 3, p. 177) [[Schott Music\|Schott]]</ref>

	''Generalmusikdirektor'' is a title given by larger towns to a person typically responsible for a symphony orchestra and the opera. The first person with this title was [[Gaspare Spontini]] in Berlin in 1819. [[Daniel Barenboim]] ~~has been~~ ''Generalmusikdirektor'' of the [[Staatsoper Unter den Linden]] in Berlin ~~since~~ 1992.		''Generalmusikdirektor'' is a title given by larger towns to a person typically responsible for a symphony orchestra and the opera. The first person with this title was [[Gaspare Spontini]] in Berlin in 1819. [[Daniel Barenboim]] was ''Generalmusikdirektor'' of the [[Staatsoper Unter den Linden]] in Berlin from 1992 to 2023.

	==Other uses==		==Other uses==
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	[[Category:Artistic directors]]		[[Category:Artistic directors]]
	[[Category:Positions of authority]]		[[Category:Positions of authority]]
	[[Category:Occupations in music]]		[[Category:Occupations in music\|Director]]
	[[Category:Broadcasting occupations]]		[[Category:Broadcasting occupations]]
	[[Category:Education and training occupations]]		[[Category:Education and training occupations]]

WikiDwarf: WikiDwarf moved page Music Director to Music director: Fix case

2021-09-16T08:18:58Z

WikiDwarf moved page Music Director to Music director: Fix case

← Older revision	Revision as of 13:48, 16 September 2021
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Jaesingh: Created page with "A '''music(al) director''' or '''director of music''' is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization.{{cite web|url=https..."

2021-09-16T05:41:42Z

Created page with "A '''music(al) director''' or '''director of music''' is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https..."

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A '''music(al) director''' or '''director of music''' is the person responsible for the musical aspects of a performance, production, or organization.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://en.oxforddictionaries.com/definition/us/musical_director|title=musical director – Definition of musical director in US English by Oxford Dictionaries|website=Oxford Dictionaries – English}}</ref> This would include the [[artistic director]] and usually chief conductor of an [[orchestra]] or [[concert band]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.collinsdictionary.com/dictionary/english/music-director|title=Music director definition and meaning – Collins English Dictionary|website=www.collinsdictionary.com}}</ref> the director of music of a film, the director of music at a radio station, the person in charge of musical activities or the head of the music department in a school,<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/music+director|title=Definition of Music Director|website=www.merriam-webster.com}}</ref> the coordinator of the musical ensembles in a university, college, or institution<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/19/arts/music/19russ.html|title=Celebrating Undefinable Songwriting|work=[[The New York Times]]|author=Ben Ratliff|author-link=Ben Ratliff|date=19 May 2008|access-date=8 August 2012}}</ref> (but not usually the head of the academic music department), the head [[bandmaster]] of a military band, the head [[organist]] and [[choirmaster]] of a church, or an [[organist and master of the choristers]] (the title given to a director of music at a cathedral, particularly in England).

==Orchestra==
The title of "music director" or "musical director" is used by many [[symphony orchestra]]s to designate the primary [[conducting|conductor]] and artistic leader of the orchestra. The term "music director" is most common for orchestras in the United States. With European orchestras, the titles of "principal conductor" or "chief conductor" are more common, which designate the conductor who directs the majority of a given orchestra's concerts in a season. In [[musical theatre]] and [[opera]], the music director is in charge of the overall musical performance, including ensuring that the cast knows the music thoroughly, supervising the musical interpretation of the performers and pit orchestra, and conducting the orchestra.

In the 20th century, the title and position typically brought with it an almost unlimited influence over the particular orchestra's affairs. As implied by the name, the music director not only conducts concerts, but also controls what music the orchestra will perform or record, and has much authority regarding hiring, firing, and other personnel decisions over an orchestra's musicians. Such authoritarian rule, once expected and even thought necessary for a symphonic ensemble to function properly, has loosened somewhat in the closing decades of the 20th century with the advent and encouragement of more power sharing and cooperative management styles (with the orchestra musicians themselves, the administrative staff, and volunteer board of directors). The music director in American lingo also assists with fund-raising, and also is the primary focus of publicity for the orchestra, as what is often called its "public face".<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2007/04/25/arts/music/25phil.html|title=Philharmonic to Add a Position at the Top|work=The New York Times|author=Daniel J. Wakin|date=25 April 2007|access-date=28 April 2008}}</ref>

The term "music director" or "musical director" became common in the United States in the middle of the 20th century, following an evolution of titles. Early leaders of orchestras were simply designated as the "conductor." In the 1920s and 1930s, the term musical director began to be used, in order to delineate the fact that the person in this position was doing much more than just conducting, and to differentiate them from guest conductors who simply led one particular program or concert. [[George Szell]], for instance, was appointed as "musical director" of the [[Cleveland Orchestra]] in 1946, and his position was so named until his death in 1970. His successor, [[Lorin Maazel]], was given the title "music director." Other major American orchestras kept more current with the times and began using the simpler term in the 1950s and 1960s.

The term can also refer to the person who directs a school band or heads the music program.

==Film and theatre==
Alternatively, the term "music director" used to appear in the film credits for a professional hired to supervise and direct the music selected for a film or music [[documentary film|documentary]], but today the more common designation is [[music supervisor]].

===India===
{{Further|Music of Bollywood#Production}}
In India, where many films are produced as [[musical film|musical]]s, the term "music director" is commonly used for the composer and music producer of the songs and score used in the film. Their roles also entail arranging, mastering, mixing and supervising recording of film music with conducting and orchestration. Usually, another artist will receive the credit for the lyrics of the songs. '

===Theatrical productions===
The "music director" for a theatrical production or [[Broadway theatre|Broadway]] or [[West End theatre|West End]] musical often serves as rehearsal pianist and conductor. This music director is often also the vocal coach, may also be involved in arranging material for new works, or collaborate on underscoring. There was a [[Tony Award for Best Conductor and Musical Director|Tony Award category for Best Musical Director]] beginning in 1948, but it was discontinued in 1964 in part due to the fluid responsibilities of musical directors.<ref>{{Cite book|title=Music Direction for the Stage: A View from the Podium|last=Church|first=Joseph|publisher=Oxford University Press|year=2015|isbn=978-0-19-999341-3}}</ref>

==Broadcasting==
A music director of a [[radio station]] is responsible for interacting with record company representatives, auditioning new music, offering commentary, and making decisions (sometimes in conjunction with the [[program director]]) as to which songs get airplay, how much and when. In [[college radio]], there may be more than one music director, as [[student]]s usually volunteer only a few hours each per week, and most stations have a diverse and extensive library of several different [[music genre]]s.

==Military==
[[File:Conducting the mounted band.jpg|thumb|Major Tim Cooper, Director of Music of The [[Blues and Royals]] mounted band in [[London]].]]
In the [[British Armed Forces]], a director of music is a [[commissioned officer]], always a musician commissioned from the ranks, who leads a military band. A [[non-commissioned officer]] or [[warrant officer (United Kingdom)|warrant officer]] who leads a band is called a [[bandmaster]].

==Pop music==
In pop music, a musical director or "MD" is responsible for supervising the musical arrangements and personnel for a touring artist. This can include festivals and televised performances as well as those at traditional on-stage venues. In the modern era, the sound of a studio recording is often impossible or impractical to reproduce on stage, and it is the music director's job to assemble musicians and arrangements to adapt that material to a live setting (which may or may not include playback of prerecorded tracks). The music director generally leads rehearsals as well as each performance, allowing the lead artist to focus on performing.<ref>{{cite web|author=Dias, Mike|title=What Exactly Does A Music Director Do?|url=http://themusicindustryinsider.com/how-do-i-become-a-music-director/|date=22 July 2013|publisher=Inside|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite magazine|title=Miley Cyrus' Music Director Talks Bangerz Tour Behind-the-Scenes|url=https://www.billboard.com/articles/columns/pop-shop/6077648/miley-cyrus-bangerz-tour-behind-the-scenes|date=8 May 2014|author=Payne, Chris|magazine=Billboard|access-date=27 February 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.musicradar.com/news/drums/how-to-find-work-as-a-drummer-and-musical-director-604586|title=How to find work as a drummer and musical director|author=Chamberlain, Richard|date=21 January 2014|access-date=27 February 2018|publisher=Music Radar}}</ref>

==Germany and Austria==
'''''{{lang|de|Generalmusikdirektor}}''''' (GMD, general music director) is a German title for the artistic director of an [[orchestra]], an institution or a town.<ref name="mer132">Gerald Mertens: ''Orchestermanagement.'' VS – Verlag für Sozialwissenschaften, Wiesbaden 2010, {{ISBN|978-3-531-16584-4}}, p. 132.</ref>

A music director (Latin: ''director musices'') was originally the title of the person responsible for music in a town in Germany and Austria. [[Johann Sebastian Bach]] was music director in [[Leipzig]], [[Georg Philipp Telemann]] and later [[Carl Philipp Emanuel Bach]] were music directors in [[Hamburg]], [[Robert Schumann]] was music director in [[Düsseldorf]].<ref>''Musikdirektor'' in: Brockhaus ''[[Riemann Musiklexikon]]'', p. 7134; Vol. 3, p. 177) [[Schott Music|Schott]]</ref>

''Generalmusikdirektor'' is a title given by larger towns to a person typically responsible for a symphony orchestra and the opera. The first person with this title was [[Gaspare Spontini]] in Berlin in 1819. [[Daniel Barenboim]] has been ''Generalmusikdirektor'' of the [[Staatsoper Unter den Linden]] in Berlin since 1992.

==Other uses==
[[Brass band]]s, [[wind band]]s, [[choir]]s, [[opera]] companies and other ensembles may also have musical directors.

==See also==
*[[Kapellmeister]]
*[[:Category:Music directors (opera)|Category:Music directors (opera)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*{{Commons category-inline|Music directors}}
*For ''Generalmusikdirektor'':
** [http://www.orchestermanagement.de/publikationen.html Orchestermanagement]
** Josef Müller-Marein: [http://www.zeit.de/1961/03/was-ist-ein-generalmusikdirektor/komplettansicht Was ist ein Generalmusikdirektor? / Wolfgang Sawallisch und sein neues Amt in Hamburg], ''[[Die Zeit]]'', 21 November 2012
** Dirk Kruse, Thomas Schulz: [https://www.br-klassik.de/themen/oper/opernberufe-generalmusikdirektor-marcus-bosch-100.html Der Generalmusikdirektor], [[Bayerischer Rundfunk]], 1 April 2016

{{Conducting}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Music directors| ]]
[[Category:Directors]]
[[Category:Artistic directors]]
[[Category:Positions of authority]]
[[Category:Occupations in music]]
[[Category:Broadcasting occupations]]
[[Category:Education and training occupations]]