Becoming a Volunteer

Have you ever thought about becoming a volunteer?

Not to worry! No one is going to ask you to take the Bastille by force or to carry the French and American flags on the Barricades. More simply, do you have some time to give to the orchestra? If yes, we need to hear from you, we need your help. From volunteer coordination and concert organization and setup to secretary work, your talent can be put to good use for a good cause.

Volunteer Coordinators

The Volunteer Coordinators have the responsibility for helping recruit and organize volunteers for all aspects of the orchestra's life. The Volunteer Coordinator helps with scheduling, logistics, special event  and concert planning. In addition, the Volunteer Cordinators will help in organizing social events for our volunteers. It is a busy but fun volunteer position.

Secretary Work

The orchestra needs to organize its filing and ensure that all of its records are up-to-date. We need a few hours per week for some “paperwork”, data entry, library organization, and interfacing with other volunteers.

Special Events and Concerts

The orchestra always needs volunteers to help with setting up spaces (concert halls, reception rooms, welcoming...) and representing the orchestra at special events and concerts such as the Bastille Day Esplanade concert. Typically, the volunteers will help the orchestra with welcoming and sitting special guests, handing over brochures and programs to the audience, and also help with minor issues that always arise during special events and concerts.

Financial and Technical

The orchestra needs some help in such areas as Finances and Technology. Fund-raising efforts need to be tracked as well as mailing lists and donations. In addition to this, the orchestra is looking for help in the redesign and maintenance of its web site.

The Benefits

The volunteers are acknowledged in all brochures, programs and all public documents of the orchestra. They are celebrated and thanked with a yearly outing in the Boston area and a yearly reception in their honor. They are also given priority in purchasing of tickets and even are assigned free passes for all concerts and events of the orchestra. The French Symphony wants to establish an atmosphere of fun and pleasure within its volunteer organization while at the same time develop its activities in order to further its mission.

The French Symphony of Boston was created in 1984, and operated from historic Footlight Theatre and St John's Episcopal Church in Jamaica Plain. The orchestra also performed in many other venues including the Marsh Chapel and the Tsai Performance Center at Boston University, the Boston Public Library, Assumption College in Worcester, Jamaica Plain High School Auditorium (now Boston English High School), the Hatch Shell (Boston Esplanade), and the University of Massachusetts in Boston.