Jane & Gary Bomba Bravo! Vail Audio Engineering Internship

Jane & Gary Bomba Bravo! Vail Summer Internship Program

Are you looking for a unique opportunity to expand your skill set and advance your career in arts administration, non-profit management, development, marketing, music education, festival operations, or live audio engineering and recording? Do you work well in a fast-paced, high energy, diverse, and rewarding environment? 

 Then look no further, the Bravo! Vail Summer Internship Program could be the perfect fit for you.

Nestled in the heart of Colorado’s Rocky Mountains, the Bravo! Vail Music Festival brings world-renowned musicians to picturesque venues throughout the Vail Valley for six weeks each year, drawing music lovers from around the world. The only festival in North America to host four of the world’s finest orchestras in a single season, Bravo! Vail celebrates its 38th season June 19 through July 31.  The Chamber Orchestra of Europe makes its highly anticipated debut led by acclaimed German conductor Matthias Pintscher. Internationally renowned resident orchestras—the Dallas Symphony Orchestra, The Philadelphia Orchestra, and the New York Philharmonic—also headline the Orchestral Series alongside distinguished guest conductors. 

A fifth orchestra is added to the Festival—Mexico’s Sinfónica de Minería—following last year’s dynamic residency. Led by Artistic Director Carlos Miguel Prieto, the orchestra returns to perform a free concert in Avon, a Chamber Music Series concert, and education and community engagement concerts and events throughout the Vail Valley

The Jane & Gary Bomba Bravo! Vail Summer Internship Program is unsurpassed in its reputation of advancing interns into successful careers in arts administration, non-profit management, and beyond. Interns have gone on to work with world-class orchestras, performance venues, festivals, and community-based non-profit organizations. Bravo! Vail is seeking eight highly qualified interns (Education & Engagement, Institutional Advancement, Audio Engineering, and Operations) who aspire to develop their skill set, seek to network with successful professionals, and are not afraid to tackle big projects. As an intern at Bravo! Vail, you will work with a variety of our staff and engage in real projects that will not only help our festival but also build your resume and career opportunities. The ideal intern candidate is willing to jump in, works well in a team environment, and knows how to problem solve in a variety of situations.

Highlights of the Jane & Gary Bomba Bravo! Vail Internship Program:

• Intern Enhancement Activities: Throughout the summer, interns participate in open forum meetings with successful professionals from Bravo! Vail, the resident orchestras’ administration, and members of the Bravo! Vail Board of Trusteesto get an insider’s perspective on many aspects of arts administration.
• Diverse Projects: Interns work on all aspects of the festival including donor events, marketing initiatives, education programs, and operational components. This gives each intern a better perspective as to which area they would like to pursue as a career.
• Access to concerts: Interns are encouraged to attend many Bravo! Vail performances.

Details:

The position begins with in-person work beginning Monday, June 9th and ending Tuesday, August 5th – then there is an additional week of remote work editing, mastering and cataloging archival recordings, ending on Tuesday, August 12th. Please note that the internship requires long hours; work hours vary significantly and include weekends and evenings. You will receive a paid stipend and shared housing will be provided. You are responsible for travel to and from Vail. Bravo! Vail requires you to bring your own laptop and you must have a vehicle. This internship requires the ability to be on your feet for extended periods of time, and the capability to lift and carry heavy objects. 

What We Require:

• Intern is responsible for transportation; some responsibilities require driving to locations within the community
• Full commitment to the festival schedule 
• Studies in a Music Degree program with a focus or interest in Audio Engineering, Live Sound, or relevant program
• Ability to work well in a team environment with a variety of people and personalities
• Strong communication skills
• Professional, enthusiastic, and positive attitude even in high-pressure situations
• Organized, with an ability to prioritize time-sensitive projects
• Ability to problem solve and take initiative
• Additional skills and experience may be required for the Audio Engineering internship, including familiarity with basic recording, editing and mixing techniques and sound system setup and operation. Familiarity with basic audio theory, signal flow, standard industry terminology and equipment is preferred.

Many of our former interns have gone on to successful careers in the arts thanks to the experiences they gained from the Bravo! Vail Summer Internship Program

“It was a blessing to spend the summer as an Audio Engineering Intern for Bravo! Vail! I had heard about the festival through the program director at my University; he was looking for students who were interested in working in live music, so I applied. Having very little experience with Classical music, I was truly blown away by the performances I was able to experience. Every ensemble we worked with brought a different energy, and it was such a pleasure to hear the extensive range of pieces played. Bravo! Vail is not only for enjoyers of Classical music, but for anyone who is passionate about music as an artform. I find so much joy in helping provide amazing concert experiences, and this internship gave me that opportunity and more. It felt amazing knowing every day when we would set up the stage, all our work would help bring such a joyous experience to a different crowd every night in a place that was so beautiful it could've been painted from a storybook.” 

– 2022 Audio Engineering Intern

AUDIO ENGINEERING INTERNS, two positions available:

Responsibilities:

• Assist with full show setup and production at Gerald R Ford Amphitheater, including running cables, testing equipment, placing and checking stage monitors, projection screens and video equipment, hanging, focusing and programming lighting instruments
• Careful microphone setup, including proper care, storage and use of DPA, Schoeps, Neumann, and other delicate and expensive microphones, setting up and placing microphones on stands, running and patching microphone cables and sub-snakes onstage, and sound system and input list patching
• Operation of live sound systems and recording equipment, including system setup, sound check and proper equalization for events that require announcer and playback functionality
• Independently manage archival recording and technical audio needs at all other Bravo! Vail concert series and donor events
• Manage the Bravo! Vail recording equipment inventory, including allocating equipment between Audio Engineering interns 
• Manage the Bravo! Vail archive, including mixing and mastering of recorded concerts, proper file storage and documentation of all recorded concerts and events, maintaining the archive catalog file, and maintaining regular, redundant updates of archive material to the archival hard drives 
• Read and understand stage plots, orchestral instrumentation sheets and audio input lists
• Maintain attention to detail and respect for musicians and patrons
• Transport of recording equipment and small sound systems to various venues in personal vehicle; unloading and loading of audio equipment
• Location audio recording for video interviews
• Assist with deployment of our mobile “Music Box” stage
• Other duties as assigned

Additional Desired Qualifications for Audio Engineering Interns: 

• Familiarity with basic audio post-production, including computer-based editing and mixing. You should have a personal laptop with a professional DAW workstation installed and a professional set of headphones and/or monitor speakers
• Proper cable management and coiling
• Familiarity with simple sound system setup and operation, including signal flow, mixer controls, equalization and gain structure, operation of wireless microphones
• The ability to work long hours outdoors in variable weather conditions, for which you will need proper footwear, rain gear, and durable/breathable clothing you can move and work in
• Working at heights: Interns should be able to climb ladders and operate equipment/use tools on venue catwalk/rigging grid safely and comfortably
• The ability to keep a professional, unintrusive demeanor among high profile artists and organization members while still doing your job

Shared Intern Responsibilities:

• Assist with collateral distribution: distribute Bravo! Vail posters,pocket calendars, and other collateral pieces throughout the Valley
• Assist with Family Concerts and Education & Engagement activities throughout the summer
• Represent Bravo! Vail in a positive, professional manner both on- and off-duty
• Other duties as assigned by Bravo! Vail staff

Application Information:

For more information on Bravo! Vail, please visit bravovail.org.

Deadline to apply is February 14, 2025. Please send a cover letter and resume (PDF files preferred) to internship@bravovail.org with the subject line “Your Name and Audio Engineering” (i.e. “Joe Smith, Audio Engineering”). You will receive a response indicating receipt of your application materials.