DSO Summer 2025 Microinternship, Equity Champion Interactive Site Project

The College of Music in partnership with the Detroit Symphony Orchestra has summer microinternships to distribute to College of Music students. Each microintern will be a “project consultant” for the DSO–completing 1 project in the field of arts administration on behalf of the DSO. Microintern recipients will be paid $600 via project pay through the MSU College of Music.

DSO Equity Champion Interactive Site Project

Department: Human Resources

Payment amount: $600 per project, paid by the MSU College of Music

Work Location: Primarily remote with at least 1 visit onsite

Dates this project could be completed:

· June 16 – July 16 (note holidays during this period: June 19 and July 4)

· July 7 – Aug 1

The Organization: 

The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) is known internationally for trailblazing performances, collaborations with the world’s foremost musical artists, and a deep commitment to serving our community. Making its home in historic Orchestra Hall at the Max M. and Marjorie S. Fisher Music Center, the DSO actively pursues its vision to be an inclusive and culturally relevant community where all people can experience their world through music.

The DSO is a complex organization. Operating 365 days per year in historic Orchestra Hall, one of America’s most acoustically perfect concert halls, we are a performing arts institution, an educational facility, and a community center. We are governed by an independent Board of Directors and employ both union and non-union employees as musicians, stage crew, and administrative staff. Creating a unified culture throughout the institution is an organizational imperative, and we are guided by our values of excellence, diversity, resilience, collaboration, and innovation.

The DSO’s commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion is paramount to who we are; we work to create an environment where all employees are seen, valued, and supported to enable their best every day. This is essential as we pursue our mission to impact lives through unforgettable musical experiences by sustaining a world class orchestra for the city of Detroit and the global community.

The DSO offers a unique, fast-paced working environment, an excellent overall compensation package, and is an Equal Opportunity Employer. For more information visit www.dso.org.

Project description: 

The HR team is creating an interactive internal employee site (Teams/SharePoint or similar) to increase awareness of and engagement in DEI educational and culture-building experiences. This site will provide tracking of key initiatives to show progress and achievements in building an inclusive culture, and be interactive to promote sharing and communication. The intern would:

· Review and provide basic analysis of data provided to determine effective ways to visualize and communicate information on the site

· Run reports, create site content, and document processes utilized to collect and convert data

· Monitor industry and community leaders for innovative practices, nature of outcomes, and potential collaborations; share benchmarking information

Job responsibilities:

· Work with the Director of DEI to review project, receive introduction to DSO systems and others who may help support project

· Review types of data provided (e.g., spreadsheet, surveys, comments, calendar of events, etc.) and create process/tools to collect data and feed to site in efficient ways that promote ongoing updates, maintenance and accuracy

· Look for missing information and suggest content for consideration using benchmarking examples

Outcomes:

· Site is built and ready to launch (priority content and interactive features are in place)

· Effort to collect data and update site is documented (time, content, tools, system, etc.)

Skillsets to be learned/solidified through the project:

· Project and time management skills

· System, software and collaborative platforms (Teams/SP Reports, Excel, Microsoft Forms)

· Data analysis

· Attention to detail, standards

· Interpersonal and professional relationship building

Additional Information:

· No music or orchestral experience necessary

· The project can be completely virtual if necessary though we are encouraging at least 1 onsite visit

Physical Requirements:

This role primarily works in an office environment and frequently has prolonged periods of sitting and looking at a computer screen.

Primary Reporting Responsibility: Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion

Direct Reports: N/A