Haley Hoops works for the Dallas Symphony Orchestra.
She has a COOL JOB as a French Horn Player.
"I enjoy playing music because we are enlightening peoples lives every day."
A Day in the Life of:
Hoops wakes up early every day and gets to the Symphony hall around 8 o'clock. She warms up for an hour or so before 10 a.m. rehearsal begins. Backstage there are horns, violins, drums and trumpets all bellowing out tunes from different directions. In the mix is Hoops, who sits at a small table adjusting her horn. As the musicians take their places on stage and the conductor begins, the musical confusion comes together and it is beautiful and calming. For two and a half hours Hoops practices. "It's very competitive. You have to be really disciplined," she said. At night she practices for two hours on her own. "The hardest part is being disciplined to practice every day." Orchestra members work 6 days a week and practice 3 to 6 hours a day. Naps are essential on performance days for Hoops. Playing the french horn requires a lot of energy, and an extra good pair of lungs. She also works hard to keep her hands flexible and to protect her face, lips and jaw. "I'm scared to even go skiing because if anything happens to my face I'm out of a job," said Hoops.
How She Got that Gig:
Have you ever wondered what it takes to beat the odds as an aspiring musician and land a position with a major orchestra? At 28, Hoops has secured a gig with one of the best symphonies in the country. "The concerts are by far the best part of this job," she said. And she has hiked a steep hill to get there. She has worked various jobs from being a secretary to selling jewelry to freelancing in order to pay the bills and afford auditions across the country. After two music degrees and extensive research on how to audition, Hoops began her quest to find a symphony job. Most of the time she heard about auditions by word of mouth and through her school. Auditions are grueling and very nerve wracking. "They sit you behind a black sheet so they can't see whether you are black or white, male or female, and ask you to play a few tunes." If they aren't impressed, after two or three songs they politely say thank you and move on to the next player, said Hoops. It's just like you see in the movies, she said. Hoops has played in church choirs, and small symphonies but her most recent gig is the first job that allows her to devote everything to music because it pays the bills. For those who do not aspire to play in an orchestra but still want to be involved in the music world, Hoops suggests a career as a professor, private tutor, or recording manager.
Education:
B.A. music performance from the University of Michigan. M.S. in music performance from Northwestern University.
High Five:
"Communicating through music."
Extras: Did you know that Hoop's French horn costs thousands of dollars? It weighs almost 5 pounds.
Words From the Wise:
"Be open minded to new ideas. Have fun with it."
