Paid Arts Management Internship Available
Through a generous grant from the Illinois Arts Council, the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra is pleased to offer a paid internship in arts management for the 2026-2027 season.
Arts Management Intern
Lake Forest Civic Orchestra | 2026–2027 Season
$20/hour | Part-time, Flexible Schedule | Lake Forest, Illinois
Love music? Interested in marketing, arts administration, or nonprofit management? Here's your chance to gain real-world experience while helping bring great music to your community!
The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra (LFCO) is seeking an enthusiastic, organized, and creative Arts Management Intern to join our team for the 2026–2027 season.
Made possible through a generous grant from the Illinois Arts Council, this paid internship offers a unique opportunity to work behind the scenes of a thriving community orchestra. You'll gain hands-on experience in nonprofit arts management, collaborating with orchestra leadership and musicians to bring inspiring musical experiences to audiences throughout Lake County.
This isn't a one-size-fits-all internship. We'll tailor your responsibilities to your interests, existing skills, and professional development goals. Whether you're passionate about marketing, music, event production, or nonprofit leadership, you'll have opportunities to contribute, learn, and make a meaningful impact.
What You'll Do
Depending on your interests and experience, you'll contribute to several areas of orchestra operations:
Marketing & Audience Engagement
Help us connect great music with our community.
Create engaging email campaigns, social media advertisements, and short-form video content.
Support our online ticketing and e-commerce operations, including ticket inventory, transaction reconciliation, and audience communications.
Assist with community outreach, local business partnerships, advertising sales, and fundraising activities.
Music Library & Orchestra Operations
Discover what it takes to prepare an orchestra for performance.
Help acquire, organize, mark, digitize, distribute, and collect orchestral music.
Maintain and update the orchestra's music library database.
Work with orchestra leadership to ensure musicians have the materials they need for rehearsals and performances.
Concert Production & Special Events
Experience the energy and excitement of live orchestral performance from behind the scenes.
Assist with concert-day setup, audience support, logistics, and teardown.
Support community events and special programs.
When available, assist with rehearsal preparation and logistics.
Nonprofit Leadership & Administration
Get an inside look at how a nonprofit arts organization operates.
Help prepare board meeting agendas, presentations, and supporting materials.
Assist with grant applications and other fundraising initiatives.
Collaborate with orchestra leadership on projects that support the organization's mission and growth.
What You'll Gain
This internship is designed to provide meaningful professional experience, not just administrative tasks. You'll have opportunities to:
Build your portfolio with real marketing campaigns, event experiences, and nonprofit projects.
Develop versatile professional skills in communications, project management, event production, and arts administration.
Explore potential career paths in arts management, marketing, nonprofit leadership, and music organizations.
Make valuable connections with experienced professionals, community leaders, and musicians.
See your work come to life through successful concerts, engaged audiences, and a stronger arts community.
Who We're Looking For
We're looking for someone who is curious, dependable, detail-oriented, and excited to learn. You don't need to have experience in every area of the internship—enthusiasm, initiative, and a willingness to take ownership of projects are equally important.
Required Qualifications
Age 22 or younger and a permanent Illinois resident, as required by the grant funding this position.
Lives in or near Lake Forest, Illinois, with reliable transportation to in-person events.
Strong organizational skills and attention to detail.
Ability to manage multiple assignments and deadlines independently.
Excellent written communication skills, particularly email correspondence.
Friendly, professional, and welcoming when interacting with audience members of all ages.
Availability to work on scheduled concert days.
Helpful, But Not Required
Familiarity with Excel or Google Sheets.
Experience creating digital marketing or social media content.
Knowledge of orchestral instruments, repertoire, or music notation, including string bowings.
Interest in classical music, performing arts, nonprofit organizations, or community engagement.
Internship Details
Compensation: $20 per hour, paid as a 1099 independent contractor position.
Duration: November 1, 2026 – June 30, 2027.
Hours: Approximately 145 hours total over eight months (approximately 4–5 hours per week on average), with workload varying based on concerts and projects. Total anticipated compensation is approximately $2,900.
Location: Hybrid. Much of the work can be completed remotely and on a flexible schedule, with required in-person participation on concert days at Gorton Center in Lake Forest.
Concert Dates (Required):
November 15, 2026
December 20, 2026
March 14, 2027
May 2, 2027
Optional Rehearsal Support: Most Thursday evenings, approximately 6:30–10:30 p.m.
We recognize that students and young professionals have busy schedules and will work to accommodate academic and other commitments outside required concert dates.
How to Apply
We'd love to hear from you!
Please send a resume and brief cover letter (both in PDF format) explaining:
Why you're interested in working with the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra.
Which aspects of the internship best match your skills and interests.
What you'd most like to learn or experience during the internship.
Email: admin@lakeforestcivicorchestra.org
Subject Line: Arts Management Internship Application
About the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra
Founded in 1989, the Lake Forest Civic Orchestra brings together approximately 55 dedicated community musicians and professional players to perform exceptional classical and contemporary orchestral music.
Through engaging performances and community connections, LFCO pursues its mission to inspire communities with musical experiences that promote lifelong learning and reinvigorate the human spirit.
The orchestra rehearses and performs at Gorton Center in Lake Forest, Illinois, and is supported by grants, individual donations, and business sponsorships.
Learn more at lakeforestcivicorchestra.org.
Equal Opportunity Statement
The Lake Forest Civic Orchestra is committed to providing a welcoming, diverse, and inclusive environment. LFCO provides equal opportunity without regard to race, color, religion, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, national origin, disability, or any other status protected by applicable law, subject to lawful eligibility requirements of the grant funding this position.
LFCO prohibits discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Internship selection and assignments are based on qualifications, skills, organizational needs, and applicable grant requirements.
