“Orange”, the leading cell-phone service provider, has launched its “Maestro Program” project in Israel. Regarded by “Orange” as a major tool for translating the company’s set of ‘values’ into ‘action’, “Maestro” has designed a series of activities dealing with such issues as dialogue, collaboration, and empowerment of employees and managers.A series of workshops for small groups of employees include composing and playing music by the participants as well as facilitated discussion about the principles underlying “Ensemble” music-making. This is followed by a large-scale event, in which “maestro” facilitators, lead a full symphony orchestra in ‘open rehearsal’. The issues discussed will focus on the challenges of working in a large organisation, the collaboration between the different instrumental sections, and from the leadership required from section-leaders, soloists and conductors.
“Maestro” facilitator Itay Talgam was the special guest speaker in a seminary attended by justices of the Supreme Court and presidents of the high courts of law in Israel. One theme brought up by Aharon Barak, Chief justice the supreme court, who took a very active part in the lively discussion, was the interesting analogy between the interpretation of the Law and that of music, and the role of the supreme court as conductor–interpreter for the other high courts. Another theme discussed was the Judge as a conductor in the courtroom involving issues such as Authority and dialogue, and the communication skills required for ‘orchestrating’ the opposing voices.
“Maestro Program” has a new module: “Crises in real-time - management and leadership in when the music (almost) stops”. Using documentary videos of many difficult moments in music-making portraying great artists under stress, great orchestras hating their conductors and the music they are forced to play (to mention just a few incidents), as well as creating musical exercises in which the participants work in ‘crisis conditions’, we seek to learn from new ways of managing oneself and one’s colleagues in times of hardship.
“Maestro” presentaion was at the center of a festive event celebrating the 10th HR convention in Tel-Aviv. Many of “Maestro Program” new and experimental modules met their first audiences in former HR conventions, and we fill privileged to take part in this happy celebration.
'Credit Swiss' has started a series of ‘Maestro’ presentations for the Bank’s preferred clientele, and ‘Maestro’ workshops for the bank’s senior and middle management.
A very special ‘Maestro’ gathering took place on August 12th 2004, as the Israel Philharmonic Orchestra invited a group of its generous donators to the famous Tanglewood Music Festival in Massachusetts. Itay Talgam, himself a former fellow in the conducting class in Tanglewood, were he studied with the legendary Leonard Bernstein, will be returning to Tanglewood to speak to the IPO’s donators group – most of them successful leaders in their own businesses - on the lessons in leadership he learnt from his great conducting teachers.
Another orchestral ‘Maestro’ was a large-scale event for ‘Superpharm’ with the ‘Israel Chamber Orchestra’ on stage. Itay Talgam conducted the orchestra in a lecture/concert, demonstrating to the managers of the challenges of creating together in a large organization, and the ways individual players, section leaders and conductors tackle those challenges.
In Rumania, the managers of “Pepsi” enjoyed a full day of ‘Matetro’ training, starting with Leadership training (including conducting lessons), and continuing with our SQL (string quartet lab!) sessions, in which they will explore the demands of working in small teams. Finally, the full group of managers will join The Bucharest Opera Orchestra on stage, to understand the inner workings of this large and complex ‘music factory’. Itay Talgam lead this event (April 2004), and another event is being planned with The Klausenberg Philharmonic orchestra, of which Itay is the permanent guest conductor.
“Apax” held a special evening of ‘Maestro’ in Tel-Aviv (February 2004), for the fund’s staff, and for a group of CEOs of the various high-tech companies Apax invested in. Yet again, music proved to be rich and relaxing medium for sharing ideas, which brings people closer together. Other Apax events will follow.
The Marker, Israel’s leading business magazine, published an extensive article on Itay Talgam and ‘Maestro programs’ in its March 2004 issue.
