Civic Library Fellowship Alum Q&A: Caroline Eichler

Founded in 2000, the Civic Library Fellowship offers aspiring orchestra librarians up to three years of professional development. Fellows benefit from the mentorship of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra librarians, and the role comes with the full responsibility of serving as the Civic Orchestra of Chicago’s librarian.

Among other duties, an orchestra librarian researches publishers and editions, purchases or rents scores as needed, communicates with conductors and soloists, checks parts for publishing errors, hand-marks bowings for string players, makes sure that each player’s part is organized in the same way, distributes the music, marks any changes made during rehearsals and sets the conductor’s scores onstage during concerts.

Alumni of the Civic Library Fellowship have gone on to work for prominent orchestras and performing arts organizations across the United States. Caroline Eichler, who was the Civic Library Fellow from 2013 to 2016, reflects on her experience in the program in the following Q&A.

Could you describe your career path since your Civic Library Fellowship?

A library job at the CSO opened up while I was in the third year of my fellowship: the position of assistant chorus manager/chorus librarian. I applied and was glad to be offered the job! It was great to continue my professional relationships with my CSO colleagues and to deepen my relationship with the organization. The Chorus role was a “bridge” for me between librarianship and administration and gave me an opportunity to hone a different set of skills. I realized that my skills, ambition and personality might be better suited to administration, so when my current position (artist coordinator) became vacant, I applied. It’s truly a delight to work with my incredible colleagues in the CSO Artistic Department, with members of the orchestra and with our amazing guest artists. They’re all exceptional, unique, focused human beings. They inspire me to become a better version of myself.

How has the Civic Library Fellowship impacted your career?

It’s hard to imagine my career path without the Civic Library Fellowship. It got my “foot in the door” at the CSO. Cliff Colnot, who was principal conductor of Civic during my fellowship, had an enormous impact on my concept of professionalism, what it means to be a (good) musician and the standards to which I aspire to hold myself. In my position now in the Artistic Department, having the library perspective fills out my understanding of the enormous gear that is the CSO (but of course, there’s always so much more to learn). I’m so grateful to have had the fellowship, and for everything that’s come after.