{"id":95920,"date":"2022-11-23T09:06:07","date_gmt":"2022-11-23T14:06:07","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/id-andrea.cms-devl.bu.edu\/cfa\/?post_type=bu-article&p=95920"},"modified":"2023-07-20T14:54:58","modified_gmt":"2023-07-20T18:54:58","slug":"student-internship-series-grant-powicki-cfa25","status":"publish","type":"bu-article","link":"https:\/\/id-andrea.cms-devl.bu.edu\/cfa\/news\/articles\/2022\/student-internship-series-grant-powicki-cfa25\/","title":{"rendered":"Beyond the Classroom Series: Grant Powicki (CFA’25)"},"content":{"rendered":"\t
\n\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\"\"\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t
\n\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tTheatre<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tMy internship at Tanglewood Music Festival\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/h1>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t

In CFA\u2019s Beyond the Classroom Series, music, theatre, and visual arts students at BU share their work experiences. These Terriers express how the resources at BU prepared them for success beyond the classroom.<\/em><\/h4>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\t\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\t\n\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n
\n\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t
November 23, 2022<\/div>\n\t\t\n\t\t\t\t
\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t
\n\t\t\tTwitter<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\tFacebook<\/span><\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\t\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n\n

As a student in the School of Theatre<\/a>, Grant Powicki (CFA’25) never expected to work for a classical music venue. But through a lighting design fixtures demo event hosted by the BU Lighting Design Department, Grant, an undergraduate lighting design student<\/a> originally from Leverett, Mass., learned about the Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship program. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grant talks with CFA about his time interning at Tanglewood Music Festival, one of the country’s premier summer music festivals and the summer home of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, light designing shows for world-renowned musicians and building connections with industry professionals. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Grant also shares how the internship taught him the value of his work as an artist and how the power of a positive mindset can open many doors.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Q&<\/span>A<\/h2>

WITH GRANT POWICKI (CFA’25)<\/h4><\/div>\n

CFA:<\/span> What was your role in the internship? What were some of your responsibilities?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> I was a stagehand primarily working with the Tanglewood Music Center Fellowship program<\/a> and BU Tanglewood Institute<\/a> (BUTI), as well as at the Seiji Ozawa Hall,<\/a> a performance venue on campus. Responsibilities included: providing the necessary equipment for chamber music rehearsals, setting and managing rehearsals of full-size orchestras, working and producing three+ concerts and presentations weekly, as well as being the Lighting Director for Ozawa Hall and Lighting systems support for the Linde Center for Music and Learning.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> How did you learn about the internship? What steps did you take to secure it?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> I learned about the internship when a sales representative from 4Wall Entertainment<\/a>, demoed new lighting fixtures in coordination with the School of Theatre Lighting Department<\/a>. I reached out to the Technical Director of the Boston Symphony Orchestra<\/a> with my resume and references and was offered the role at Tanglewood.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> Any notable accomplishments from the internship?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> Designing for world-renowned musicians, connecting with active industry professionals, and developing a lasting connection with the Boston Symphony Orchestra!<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> Did any resources at CFA or BU help you prepare for the internship?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> The amount of work I was doing in my classes was good preparation for the long hours and less time for sleep.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> How did the coursework at CFA connect with your internship?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> My understanding of computer drafting was helpful in the preparation work that needed to be done when a tour visited. The lighting programming I learned at BU was a great base for the programming I did for performances at differing venues.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure><\/div><\/div>\n<\/div><\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

CFA:<\/span> In what ways do you think the internship has helped you prepare for your work beyond BU?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> The internship gave me a real sense of how the industry functions and the real speed at which work happens. It also gave me great hands-on experience with working professionals in a space where my work was valued. Also, I made connections with the BSO as well as with visiting artists that I could take advantage of post-graduation.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> What did you learn about yourself?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> I learned to value my work at a higher level and that while some of the work might seem daunting, it is possible with the correct mindset. I also learned about the pace at which I like to work and how to balance my schedule.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> Any advice for current CFA students beginning the internship process?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> Value your work! The art industry is changing and as artists, we need to show how valuable we are, we shouldn’t be working for free. Also, apply to many places, I did not expect to be working for a classical music venue, but now I got an experience unlike one that will be taught in the CFA, so use the summer as a time to experiment and try all sorts of different work.<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

CFA:<\/span> What’s next for you, Grant?<\/span><\/h3>\n\n\n\n

Grant:<\/span> Now I\u2019m back at school but hopefully will return to Tanglewood next year, possibly with more of a touring production focus or again as a stagehand.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/section>\n\n\n\n

<\/div><\/div>
Value your work! The art industry is changing and as artists, we need to show how valuable we are, we shouldn’t be working for free. Also, apply to many places, I did not expect to be working for a classical music venue, but now I got an experience unlike [any other], so use the summer as a time to experiment and try all sorts of different work.<\/div>