Not likely. The UAE companies in general pay for your health insurance, housing allowance, and your flight back to the country when you go abroad during your contract.
I don’t have any first hand experience with the Middle East, but I know fellow musicians who have toured/gigged there and the vibe I’m getting is that this is a really rich country that’s trying to establish a form of cultural soft power through the arts (ie to show the rest of the world that they’re developed on par with the West). Friends have told me that the UAE is actually a pretty safe place to live nowadays, and extremely clean, though you have to accept that they’re much more culturally conservative. As far as I know this isn’t a brand new initiative, but they’re basically operating on the same contract type as those Chinese orchestras. Your fixed term contract will expire, and rather than having to renew it you’ll be asked to re-audition for your job in a public audition against a batch of new candidates.
As far as the job experience goes, my understanding is that these countries have a LOT of money to fund such a group, but they don’t have the experience necessary. I would imagine that while you’d get paid handsomely, you might end up frustrated if a fully operational US or Europe orchestra is what you’re used to.
I’m going to submit for it, if anything because I haven’t been to that part of the world and it would be an adventure for 3 years. I wouldn’t go into this expecting a lifetime position, though. Definitely a lease on life for the contract term until you can find something with more long term stability.
Sounds like a good way to get out of the country during Trump's term.
Anyone know if they pay for flights for people who pass the online round?
I don’t have any first hand experience with the Middle East, but I know fellow musicians who have toured/gigged there and the vibe I’m getting is that this is a really rich country that’s trying to establish a form of cultural soft power through the arts (ie to show the rest of the world that they’re developed on par with the West). Friends have told me that the UAE is actually a pretty safe place to live nowadays, and extremely clean, though you have to accept that they’re much more culturally conservative. As far as I know this isn’t a brand new initiative, but they’re basically operating on the same contract type as those Chinese orchestras. Your fixed term contract will expire, and rather than having to renew it you’ll be asked to re-audition for your job in a public audition against a batch of new candidates.
As far as the job experience goes, my understanding is that these countries have a LOT of money to fund such a group, but they don’t have the experience necessary. I would imagine that while you’d get paid handsomely, you might end up frustrated if a fully operational US or Europe orchestra is what you’re used to.
I’m going to submit for it, if anything because I haven’t been to that part of the world and it would be an adventure for 3 years. I wouldn’t go into this expecting a lifetime position, though. Definitely a lease on life for the contract term until you can find something with more long term stability.