How to write a classical musician bio?
By Irma de Jong
A good biography is nothing more than making an appealing story from your curriculum vitae. I know for many people, this stresses them out. They don't like to do it, wait until the very last second, and sometimes the biography comes out messy or too long because they don't know what to write or think they do not have the talent to write. So, what is crucial is to understand and master the three steps you need to create your curriculum vitae.
Working on a complete, bright, attractive biography is crucial for you. It is part of your branding!
1. Figures and Facts
You need to work methodically and precisely to assemble the figures and facts that shaped your career in a logical order. Start with your education, when, where, and with whom you started and continued your studies. Next, write down milestones like prizes won at a competition, special awards, or graduations. Then, move on to your stage experiences, including solo and chamber music, and finish by assembling the masterclasses and summer courses you attended and with whom. Should you have made recordings, mention them, the year of production, and the repertoire; any reviews with links are also helpful.
2. What's your story?
I DON'T NEED A BIOGRAPHY; I WANT YOUR STORY!
I've seen a lot of biographies in my life. When I started to work as a PR and marketing trainee at the orchestra, one of the first things I had to do was edit biographies. This is not as simple as you might think. First, it had to fit in the concert program booklet, which meant I had to cut at least half of the text; then, I needed to be careful not to cut out important things, something that the artist or orchestra finds precious. I also had to make sure it was attractive enough to the audience. For example, many people do one thing to create a summary list of all the halls and countries they've performed, which is the most annoying thing to read!
So, how can we build an exciting and appealing biography out of facts and figures? A suitable method is to use the "interview" format. Interview yourself, or have someone interview you. Take the sheet with the dry figures and facts and start to tell the story that comes with it. Just talk usually, like you had a conversation, and record your voice. After you interview yourself, sit down with the recording and start putting it on paper as a storytelling biography. Feel free to write it out roughly and start polishing only after!
Now you have two parts of the biography:
- a Fact and Figures sheet
- a Story
3. Extract a short and long version and the elevator pitch
From your long storytelling biography, you must extract a short version. Remember that any organizer or promoter will never use the entire length. To ensure they use the best elements, prepare a short version of your biography with essential information and no more than 350 words.
For what purpose do you need your biography?
First of all, for what purpose will you use your biography? To apply for a position at an orchestra? Or for a competition? Do you have a concert and the promoter asked you for a biography? Do you want to write to a festival or promoter to present yourself?
You must write differently for each purpose and mix your "ingredients" magically.
A summary
Start building your biography with a couple of mixed and reconstructed elements according to the purpose. We have:
• FACTS > The base for your biography, build on the dry facts
• A STORY > The story that comes with the facts
• Flavours> What colors light up your biography, or do you want to put them in the front?
• IMPRESSION MAKERS > What impresses people? Did you perform with a famous orchestra? Have you won an exceptional price? In what way are you unique in your performance?
Compose a short biography and have your elevator pitch ready!
Make sure you have a biography of no more than 700 words, compose a smaller version of 350 words and an elevator pitch of 3 phrases. Use headlines and paragraphs to make your biography "scannable" on your website. If you have, use positive quotes from the press as a headliner. Add some personal texts, a personal quote, or your artist's life mission.
Last, be consequent in writing, find your style, and be authentic.
Irma de Jong is an artist and Project Manager at the agency Cicerone Music & Art, owner. She has worked in classical music for more than 30 years and has collaborated with many renowned artists and orchestras. She is also the executive director of iClassical Academy.
Irma created an online self-management course for musicians to empower and encourage artists to change their careers. Writing a good biography is a part of this course, which includes a three-step plan for creating the perfect base biography for all activities.
> Find How to Write a Good Biography course here
> Full self-management course here
Private Interactive Course with Irma de Jong
Are you ready to boost your career 100%?
A crucial change in the direction of your career will not happen overnight. That's why Irma needs to work with you for at least two months, with each week different topics of your career planning to be treated depending on the plan you'll establish together with Irma. After that, you'll work directly on implementing the skills she'll teaches.