Writing Captivating Biographies for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit

Whether it’s for local concert promotions, touring overseas, or just posting on your website, a well-constructed press kit can be an invaluable tool for raising the profile of your ensemble. In our new eBook “Creating the Perfect Press Kit for Your Ensemble”, we discuss how to choose the sample repertoire, take engaging photos, create press releases and more.>

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The two essential biographies needed in a press kit are the director biography and ensemble biography. The templates below provide a starting point:

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Director/Accompanist Biography Template:

Title of position Number of years in position Education & training background Certifications Nominations & awards Recordings Compositions Publications Quotes from local news sources Other positions held Story of musical career Recent accomplishments Interesting facts about the person Personal or business website

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Ensemble Biography Template:

Number of years that the program has been around Destinations where the ensemble has toured Festivals that the group has participated in Competition participation and scores Quotes from local news sources Nominations & awards Recordings Repertoire style of the group Recent accomplishments Interesting facts about the ensemble Upcoming projects

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Tips for Success:

Identify audience and purpose of biography Put the name in the first sentence (of whom the biography is about) Write from someone else’s point of view Limit text to 1-2 paragraphs Use unique adjectives when describing accomplishments Bold or italicize highlight points to stand out For touring groups, complete biographies for soloist(s), assistant director(s) and accompanist(s) as applicable Add personality!

To learn more about taking engaging photos, preparing recordings, choosing repertoire or compiling press materials, download our Press Kit Guide today!

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View our other articles in the Backstage Blog’s Press Kit series:

4 Reasons Your Ensemble Needs a Press Kit
The 5 Essentials of Your Ensemble’s Press Kit
Taking Engaging Photos for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit
Writing Captivating Biographies for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit
Choosing Sample Repertoire for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit
Prepare Recordings for Your Ensemble’s Press Kit
Press Releases & Posting Your Ensemble’s Press Kit

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