i was just wondering if there were any professional orchestral players here. i mean like a full time player (or subs i guess)...something you get paid for. i was just wondering if you have any suggestions on this line of work.

(well, if you do have suggestions in any case, i would be happy to hear them!)

I must say that I only do it part time because I am still in highschool. I started to play in a professional polka band when I was in ninth grade. I do get paid for it even though I am not at all of the rehearsals and not at all of the performances because of the other school related theings that I do. For the band that I am in you do not get too much but I really can not complain because I am blind and am not at all of the performances that we have. It is really fun to do if you really love music but If your heart is not really into working hard to learn the music and to really enjoy the music I do not recamend this job to them. I hope that this has helped you and I am sorry if there are any typos in this message.

I believe she asked professional players, not high school players.

Well excuse me but I think that you missed the whole part of playing with a professional polka band and getting paid for it. It does not matter if you are inschoo or not. It just matters if you play professionally in which case I do.

Oh sorry. I guess playing the flute in a real Polka band would make you a real professional then. Lol! Hey, can I get lessons from you? LOL! Lol!

You`re not very funny, and not very smart either. She gets paid, so she`s a professional, because she has a profession in playing the flute! To add to it, she`s blind, so her work is generally about 3 times harder than everyone else! Imagine, if you went blind tomorrow, would you succeed?

Thanks Riki. I really appreciate your help. I think that part of the problem that that person has is that I am still in high school and am playing many instruments for a profession. Because I am in high school she/he thinks that it is not possible to be playing with a professional polka band. Thank you once again.

Your welcome! You`re just so inspiring with such talents!

jennifer, you inspire me as well. i`m a highschooler and i also play professionally in a symphony so here`s to highschool professionals! keep up the awesome work dear

What Symphony are you in?

Hey thanks. I really appreciate it. I do not really think about making money right now because I am still in school but I do have a lot of fun playing. I know that if I did not have fun then I would not do it. The best thing to do though is to just have fun with it because if you do not then it starts to feel more like a chore then anything else. Just have fun.

i play on occacion with the NC Symphony and i play in the Triangle Philharmonic

(answering KC`s question)

I am a Broadway pit musician as well as a member of the Brooklyn Philharmonic and a frequent substitute in the New York Metropolitan Opera and New York City Opera.

i`ve always wanted to play with or hear the met live! it is (from what i heard) the best paying orchestral job out there. WOW