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| Nicole Jordan- Photo courtesy of the ASO |
The Assistant Principal Librarian position is demanding requiring Jordan to research long forgotten pieces, know every member of the orchestra, and be more familiar with the music than most of the musicians. All eyes are on Jordan as she boldly takes on the role and makes a name for herself in the world of classical music.
*This article was first published in 2016. In 2020 Nicole Jordan made history again as the first African-American Principal Librarian to join the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.
PW: What’s the most challenging part of your position?
NJ: Figuring out exactly what they want to do. For example The Tchaikovsky Rococo Variations. There are two versions, the original variation is hardly ever done, so when someone says we’re going to do the Rococo Variations you can’t make assumptions. In this case, they were were performing the uncommon variation.
PW: Once you know which version how do you prepare it?
NJ: Now, I would already know there are two versions, but I also need to know to ask. You can say something like "This is a really funny question, I need to make sure you’re doing the common one and not the uncommon one?" So it’s being sure you understand what the soloist or what your conductor wants to do. You can always do a short piece, then a solo and then a big orchestral tadoo. You always want to make sure you’re on the same page with everybody and what they want.
PW: Do you provide the music?
NJ: So we’re going to do a Rococo Variation, but the original one we want to buy is a mess, or the soloist is going to provide us with one that has their markings and everything else on it. Now you have to get in contact with their people and have your people call their people and ask "What are you trying to do? Can you send me some material? Do you have the first violin part? Do you have the score that you use or a solo part that you use that we can perform some reconstructive surgery on because this is a mess?" We have to make sure that what they’re preparing is what they actually do because when they get here you don’t have that much time to put on a concert. It has to be 97% correct and you have to be a jack of all trades.
PW: Do you still play the viola?
NJ: No. I never practice. I’m immersed in music, but in a completely different way. I'm still fulfilled on a spiritual level and mental level. For me, it’s not dreams of a lost violist where I’m pining away secretly wanting to stand up and play Harold and Emily. It’s perfect for me and I get that same satisfaction from playing an E-flat major scale for an hour because I’m using those same parts of my brain, but applying it to a very vast and important position. So for me it’s satisfying, but I don’t miss it. I can look at my viola and say "You’re a great viola, but I’m not going to pick you up and I hope you’re ok with that."
PW: Are you traveling?
NJ: I wish I could do it more often as a reward to myself.
PW: What places have you enjoyed the most during your travels?
NJ: So far Turkey. I’d have to say Bodrum and Izmir- the two coastal cities. The crystal blue water was just beautiful. It's beautiful and I liked the street kabobs. They discourage you from eating them, but you can’t go to someone’s hometown and not immerse yourself in the culture. Most of them have never met Americans, let alone Black Americans, and I really enjoyed that. It was my first time out of the country and it was a great experience to have.
PW: Where are you going next?
NJ: I’m visiting Korea. In my spare time I study Korean.
PW: What do you think is the secret to success in classical music?
NJ: It’s overcoming your own mental restrictions of what you can and can not do. Anything worth doing is never easy. You really have to work if you want to be successful at anything. If you think about anyone you admire, they worked hard and they didn't come by it easy.
PW: What was the hardest part for you?
NJ: A lot of the adjustment for me was music theory, the oral training and ear training - you can’t study it, either you have it or you don’t. You’re really in this situation where in 15 weeks you’re expected to identify a major seventh chord, a minor seventh chord, a sixth and fourth. You really understand music is a language that you have to master.
PW: Why did you want to quit?
NJ: A lot of the reason I wanted to quit is because theory was hard. I was doing all these things that didn't require me to be in a room with my instrument and that was hard. I didn’t want to do it. And it was really a question of money being spent because I was putting myself through school. I asked myself "What did you apply to college behind your mom’s back for if you’re not going to follow through with it." If I was going to fail I needed to have at least tried and failed. But I had to try and see what happened, because if I tried I might actually be good and that’s what the turning point was for me.
PW: Were you aware of how difficult is was going to be?
NJ: Being in a position where you have to gain these particular skills in such a short amount of time posed a lot of difficulty for me and it poses a lot of difficulty for everybody. You think life is youth symphony playing music and playing solos, and it's actually being able to identify an augmented fourth and taking dictation.
PW: What made you choose Atlanta?
NJ: Honestly, I didn’t choose Atlanta. I thought maybe I could get a job where I was working, but I couldn't find one. Atlanta opened up and my best friend said you should apply and I said "I don’t think I’m qualified."
My best friend said "Well if you don't, I’ll apply. I’m going to steal your resume and apply for you."
So, I said "Well fine, I’ll do it."
I think it was more of a faith thing where you don’t end up where you thought you would end up, doing what you thought you were going to do. But the universe has a plan for you, and that’s how I transplanted my Yankee behind down here to Atlanta.
PW: How does it feel to make history?
NJ: Again, it’s such a personal thing to accomplish and it really didn’t hit home until my mom saw it and said "My baby made history." I think for anybody who touches on a milestone such as this it takes you by surprise how much it means to everyone else. Then it has so much more meaning for you. I’m still a little surprised. I’m excited other people are excited, and I hope it’s a source of inspiration for everyone. I want people to see that you can do what you want to do in life if you work hard and you stay on the grind. It’s never really easy, but just keep doing it because you never know what you’re going to accomplish.