Monica Sirocchi

I attribute my success to having an enterprising attitude and the ability to create opportunities where none exist. I don't approach any task as if there is a barrier. I look for opportunities and see what can be seized. I make things actionable by figuring out the steps needed to achieve something and then executing on them. I think you have to find opportunity where one doesn't exist, and that's where the enterprising piece comes in. So many people see an end or say there's no chance because they didn't study something formally or don't have experience in an arena, but I look at all that as opportunity. I'm also very organized and get things done. I'm comfortable working across all aspects of an organization, whether it's personnel management, marketing, social media, filing taxes, or incorporation. I'm dynamic and embrace wearing many hats with confidence. Another key part of my success is that I'm very empathetic and have a way of making sure everyone feels valued and included. I create a culture with a very high sense of value so that everyone knows they have a part in the greater whole. I also move in silence and work very hard on the back end to achieve things without needing everything brought into the limelight.

I would tell young women that you can be enterprising and create opportunities and experiences for yourself. I am a testament to that. I went through an education that was not in music, but I managed to continue my studies in music. I worked in arenas that were not music. I saw a need in a community where there was not something that would have met what I would like to have seen met, and I created the opportunity where one didn't exist. The greatest takeaway I would like for someone to recognize is that you can create opportunity. Having that piece of yourself that is enterprising really paves the way towards success. There's no stopping point. I find so many conversations with others where they don't see an opportunity, they see an end, like there's no chance here because they didn't study something formally or don't have experience in an arena or there is no organization for what they're looking to do. I look at all that as opportunity. You have to find opportunity where one doesn't exist, and that's where the enterprising piece comes in. It's also important to know that there are so many things one can do with music. Music does not have to be music performance only or music education only. There are other avenues in which one can work in music.

The most important values to me are inclusivity and making sure everyone feels valued. I wanted to create a culture that has a very high sense of value, so that everyone knows that they have a part in the greater whole. There's a part of operating a performing arts organization that can make people feel as if they are just a number, just someone on a list or in a section, but there's none of that in the organization I operate. I make sure people know their stand partner and feel connected. I also value transparency and don't gatekeep information. If I've tried something and it's worked, and I'm able to share that with another organization to contribute to their success, I think that's wonderful. I'm not above learning and welcome opportunities for discussion with others who have worked in these roles. I value moving in silence and working hard on the back end rather than seeking recognition. I don't operate in a way where I feel everything needs to be brought into the limelight. I also strongly believe that I would never take credit independently because success is absolutely through the support of those involved in the organization. Without the conductor and the 65 members who show up each week to rehearse, there is no orchestra. The face of the organization is really the members who are contributing to its success.