Conductors, Composers, and Music Arrangers
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Job description
Conductors conduct musical groups, orchestras, and choirs. Composers create musical works. They also make instrumental and vocal arrangements. Music Arrangers transcribe instrumental and vocal works to adapt them or create a particular style.
Environment
- Controlled ambient temperature
- Climatic conditions
- Noise
Main tasks
Conductors
- Select and perform musical works.
- Conduct concerts in front of an audience or for a dress rehearsal.
- Coordinate rehearsals and develop strategies to achieve the desired result.
Composers
- Compose music for various productions (films, television shows, etc.).
- Compose music to accompany interactive products, such as video games.
Music Arrangers
- Adapt and modify musical works to evoke selected themes.
Advancement and mobility
- These individuals may specialize in one style of music (classical, country, jazz, etc.).
- Composers often work as Music Arrangers.
Hourly wage
Not available.Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects for 2024-2028
Job prospects
All of Québec
All of Québec
Total jobs for 2023
All of Québec
All of Québec
Gender distribution
All of Québec
- 24.5% Female
- 75.5% Male
- 24.5% Female
- 75.5% Male
Job types
All of Québec
- Full time
- Part time
- Full time
- Part time
Yearly wage on 2020
All of Québec
All of Québec
Other characteristics
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
All of Québec
- Non traditional for women
- None
Sectors of activity
All of Québec
-
NAICS 7167% of jobs
-
NAICS 5118% of jobs
-
NAICS 618% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
NAICS 54152% of jobs
-
Others1% of jobs
All of Québec
-
NAICS 7167% of jobs
-
NAICS 5118% of jobs
-
NAICS 618% of jobs
-
NAICS 814% of jobs
-
NAICS 54152% of jobs
-
Others1% of jobs
Training and requirements
Formation
Most training programs are offered in French only.
College
DCS in professional Music and Song Techniques (Composition and Arrangement)
Placement rate: 37.2%
60.5% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in professional Music and Song Techniques (Music Theatre Performance)
Placement rate: 83.3%
16.7% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in professional Music and Song Techniques (Performance)
Placement rate: 25.9%
74.1% of graduates pursue further studies
DCS in technologies sonores
Placement rate: 81.3%
12.5% of graduates pursue further studies
University
Music
Bachelor’s degree
Placement rate: 39.3%
43.6% of graduates pursue further studies
Master’s degree
Placement rate: 48%
34% of graduates pursue further studies
Also required
- Experience as a musician.
Sometimes required
- Specialized training in conducting, composition, or arrangement is usually required.
- A portfolio demonstrating musical talent and creative skills is usually required.
Main skills and characteristics
Skills
- Data collection
- Reading comprehension
- Written expression
- Active listening
- Critical thought
- Coordination
- Oral expression
- Time management
- Judgment and decision-making
- Information processing
- Result evaluation
- Solving complex problems
- Active learning
Abilities
- Hearing sensitivity
- Originality
- Near vision
- Written comprehension
- Written expression
- Idea generation
- Speech recognition
- Oral comprehension
- Deductive reasoning
- Verbal skills
- Inductive reasoning
- Information organization
- Selective attention
- Awareness of issues
- Speech clarity
- Auditory attention
- Classification
- Digital dexterity
- Sound origin identification
- Memorization
- Processing flexibility
Knowledge and attributes
- Leadership
- Spoken and written bilingualism (French and English)
- Capacity to work in a team
- Versatility
- Attention to detail
- Knowledge of computer science, digital and electronics
- Tolerance to stress
- Creativity
- Knowledge of the arts
- Knowledge of communication and media
Interests
- Direct, organize, and manage
- Work in the arts, culture, music, or leisure
- Create, design
Personality profiles (RIASEC)
- Artistic
- People with this profile prefer to express their emotions and thoughts through various art forms. They like to use their imagination.
- Investigative
- People with this profile prefer relying on theoretical knowledge before acting. They like observation, analysis and problem solving.
- Social
- People with this profile prefer to be in contact with others, in particular to entertain, help or teach them.
Official name of the NOC 51121
Conductors, composers and arrangers
Job titles
- Composers
- Arrangers
- Conductors
- Author-composer-performer
- Artistic director - music
- Music director
- Music adapter
- Songwriter
- Music writer
- Choir director
- Copyist - music
- Orchestra artistic director
- Motion picture musical director
- Stage musical director
- Television musical director
- Band conductor
- Maestro
- Orchestrator-arranger
- Orchestrator
- Lyricist
Skill type
Art, culture, recreation and sport
Related occupations
Last update: January 29, 2026