The role of Musical Supervisor is, as the name suggests, to oversee the successful and smooth running of all musical aspects of the society. This comes in three primary roles: supporting the Vocal Coach, supporting the Musical Director, and having oversight of the society as a whole from a musical standpoint.

1. Supporting the Vocal Coach

As Musical Supervisor, it is initially your responsibility (alongside the rest of committee) to interview and select Vocal Coaches for the term one, two, and three shows. Once this has taken place, you are there to support them in any capacity they may require, from addressing concerns about cast members to helping develop vocal warm-ups. You may also be asked to act as a rehearsal pianist if one cannot be found, so having good ability on the piano is useful though not necessary. Alongside this, it is your job to ensure they themselves are performing their role well in teaching the vocals of the show and that the cast are happy working under them. In the unlikely event that a Vocal Coach could not be found, it would also be the Musical Supervisor’s remit to take on the role themselves, so good knowledge of singing and vocal technique is desirable. 

2. Supporting the Musical Director

In a similar vein to the Vocal Coach, it is the Musical Supervisor’s task to interview and select Musical Directors to lead the band for the various shows throughout the year. After this, it is again expected you would provide any support they could request. It is also your responsibility to assist in band auditions, including booking rooms for the auditions themselves and sourcing instrumentalists should they not be found through auditioning. Once the process begins, often support is asked in the form of room and equipment bookings. It may also be required, similarly to acting as a rehearsal pianist, to be prepared to fill in for band members in performances themselves if they are unable to attend for one reason or another and you have confidence on their instrument. Often you can be approached as a second opinion on musical decisions that the Musical Director makes if they so wish. And again, in the event of being unable to find a Musical Director, it should be the Musical Supervisor’s task to step into the role for the duration of the show process.

3. Musical Oversight

This can involve a whole range of different aspects, including coordination and communication between Shotgun and various different societies; booking rooms and equipment for the society, including for cabarets; ensuring that decisions are made with a musical standpoint taken into account; and being a presence both throughout the show process and throughout Theatre at Exeter generally. In short, it is ensuring the smooth running of the society from a musical standpoint, meaning good organisational and communication skills are of paramount importance for the position. And it goes without saying that it is vital to have an excellent understanding of music to be able to perform this role well.