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Zachary Good, a Civic Fellow from 2014 to 2016, is now "living his dream" as a member of the sextet Eighth Blackbird.
Deidre Huckabay
For more than a century, young musicians have received expert training through the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, which offers performance opportunities with top-tier conductors and mentorship from musicians of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Currently in its 10th anniversary season, the Civic Fellowship program provides additional professional development for a select group of Civic Orchestra members. The mission of the Fellowship is to prepare participants for multifaceted careers in music through four pillars of concert curation, music education, social justice and project management.
In the interview below, former Civic Fellow Zachary Good shares his memories of the program.
What is your background with music and your instrument?
I grew up in Pittsburgh, where the sound of the clarinet was always in my ear, thanks to my neighbor being a clarinet teacher. I performed in youth orchestras in high school before attending Oberlin for my undergraduate degree.
What led you to audition for the Civic Orchestra?
After Oberlin, I landed in Chicago, feeling uncertain of what to do next. I ended up forming strong relationships with musicians adjacent to Civic and saw the impact of the program on their lives. I was lucky to win a spot as a Fellow for the 2014-16 cohort.
How did being a Civic Orchestra member and Fellow help you professionally and personally? Are there career milestones you would not have reached without your time in Civic?
Although the Civic Orchestra is one of the best training programs for young orchestral musicians in the world, I never wanted to perform orchestral music exclusively. My time as a Fellow and the many education and community engagement projects I undertook showed me how my musicianship could inspire positive change in different contexts and that I could be more than just a clarinetist.
The skills I gained through Civic, like developing a confident stage presence and curating programs, set me up for a successful career. During my time as a Fellow, Eighth Blackbird — an American contemporary music sextet based in Chicago — were my idols. I am now living my dream as a member of the ensemble!
What do you think sets the Civic and the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association as a whole apart from other orchestras?
It’s rare to offer resources to training musicians to do projects on their own, which the Fellowship does well. I’ve been doing my own projects ever since with the understanding that anything is possible.
What were some of your favorite moments, events or projects while a Civic Fellow? How did those experiences prepare you professionally?
I helped design the Civic Orchestra’s New Music Project, which continues today with an annual call for scores from living composers. Through Civic, I was able to cultivate my love for and performance practice of contemporary music, and I am so proud that this work has become an integral component of the Fellowship experience.
Through the CSO’s School Partnership Program, I traveled with a Civic Orchestra woodwind quintet to perform dozens of concerts and speak to students in schools across Chicago. It was exciting to have a platform to develop public speaking skills and create concert programs with a compelling narrative. I discovered I enjoy mentoring young people, which led me to teach middle-school band for seven years.
How have you kept involved with Civic since you were a member?
I have performed with the Civic as a substitute quite often and have participated in workshops with Civic musicians.
I will also be performing a piece I was commissioned to write at the Negaunee Music Institute Showcase on June 12, in honor of the Civic Fellowship’s 10th anniversary.
Why should donors support the Civic Orchestra?
The activities of the Civic Orchestra, particularly the Fellowship, are made possible through donors who are passionate about empowering the next generation of musicians. The time for members is usually at a transformative and transitional period in a musician’s career, and having the support and guidance of the Fellowship has led me and so many fellow alumni to success.
