Ballet Talk with Pacific Northwest Ballet · Pacific Northwest Ballet

Q & A - Music Librarian, Mona Butler

·27 min·2 clips

Mona Butler reveals how she became a music librarian at a ballet company without formal training.

This episode features Pacific Northwest Ballet's Marketing Assistant Maris Antolin interviewing the company's Music Librarian and Bassoonist, Mona Butler. They explore the specialized role of a music librarian within a ballet company. Mona Butler explains how she came to hold this unique position. A ballet music library is split into two parts: piano scores for rehearsal pianists and orchestra parts for the musicians. The librarian manages both the repertoire for studio rehearsals and the music for the orchestra. Butler notes that in many ballet companies, this role is often filled by one of the rehearsal pianists. She became the music librarian in 1996 after already playing bassoon in the PNB orchestra. She sought a role with flexible hours to accommodate her young children. The position did not require formal music librarian training but utilized her existing musical skills. Butler highlights that the job uses all the skills musicians develop through their training. She finds the work creatively fulfilling despite it being an administrative role. The episode provides a rare look into a backstage career path that is essential yet often unseen. It demystifies how the correct music reaches both pianists and orchestra musicians for every rehearsal and performance. The conversation reveals the practical logistics behind ballet's musical accompaniment. The tone is informal and conversational, with a focus on career insights and daily operations. The style is educational, offering a clear explanation of a niche theatrical job. Listeners interested in ballet production, orchestra management, or unconventional music careers would love this episode. Those seeking performance highlights or artistic critique might find it too technical.

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