‘Being a female leader comes with its challenges... you have to do the job better’

Name: Katherine Hunka

Age: 52

Lives: Killaloe in County Clare

Job title: Leader of the Irish Chamber Orchestra and lecturer at MTU Cork School of Music.

Salary bracket: As a freelancer, every year is very different.

Education background: I studied in London at the Royal Academy of Music, and at Indiana University, USA.

Hobbies: Climbing hills, cooking, time with friends, reading, going to anything cultural.

Describe your job in five words: Violinist, touring performer and composer.

Describe yourself in five words: Vibrant, energetic, fun, connected, boundaried.

Personality needed for this kind of work?

All of the above, plus the tenacity to stick to a long and vigorous training regime.

How long are you doing this job?

I have played the violin since I was four and have been doing professional work since the age of ten.

How did you get this job?

I have always played music and knew from an early age that I wanted to be a professional musician. I was lucky enough to have great teachers. Now I teach at the Cork School of Music and enjoy helping young musicians on their path.

After studying, I was headhunted to work with the Irish Chamber Orchestra. The musical world is small, and my violin mentor in the USA was asked if he knew anyone that could be a leader. The job involves bringing together the ensemble musically and ensuring there is good communication between musicians and visiting conductors.

I began with the Irish Chamber Orchestra in 1999 and will be leaving this summer to pursue other goals. I have had 26 wonderful years.

Do you need particular qualifications or experience?

To lead an orchestra, you need to be a really good violinist and a people person.

Describe a day at work: A day with the orchestra will start with a warm-up at home to get my fingers moving. I drive into our rehearsal space in the University of Limerick. If I am directing the rehearsals that day, there will be decisions to be made concerning the plan for the day, and how we structure the time.

We work for six hours with a break for lunch. It is important for me that the working atmosphere stays focused and light at all times. Nothing can be created in an environment of stress. I spend my breaks talking to management and musicians, ensuring that everyone is heard and that any problems are dealt with.

After an intense day of rehearsal, I will do very little in the evening. Hang out with my family and have some nice food.

A concert day is very different. I will try to reserve energy in the morning, although often there will be travel. I find it is important to eat well before I play. Musicians need to take care of themselves physically. Lots of fresh air and exercise. We need to be well to play.

How many hours do you work a week?

It varies hugely. This week, 50 hours. Other weeks 30 to 50.

Is your industry male or female-dominated? Pretty equal.

Does this affect you in any particular way?

Being a female leader comes with its challenges. I think as a woman you have to do the job even better.

Is your job stressful? How? Rate it on a scale of 1-10: 7. There are weeks when I can recuperate. The stressful days are full of travel and highly challenging performances. That can accumulate and become tough on the body and mind.

Do you work with others or on your own? I work in a group.

When do you plan to retire or give up working?

I can’t imagine not working with music in some way until I’m not able.

Best bits: Feeling the audience react to the music, sharing that space with others. I will never tire of that.

Worst bits: The days when you really don’t want to be on stage. Everyone has those. It can be terrifying.

Advice to those who want your job? I would say if you love music, if it is at the heart of who you are, then go for it.