Melbourne · Working with arts organisations across Australia

Copywriting for arts & cultural organisations

Give people a reason to listen, read or come along.

A concert listing has a different job from a program note. One helps someone decide to book; the other gives them something to listen for once they’re in the hall. I write both with the audience in mind.

I’m Adam Weitzer, a Melbourne copywriter and editor with experience at the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra and a Master of Music by research. I write concert programs, artist biographies, event copy and editorial features, and edit publications that need a careful reader before they go out.

Discuss an arts writing brief Read selected work

Writing for the performance, the page and the audience

Concert program notes

Researched introductions that connect musical detail, historical context and the experience of listening. I look for what will reward the curious newcomer while giving the regular concertgoer something to think about.

Event and season copy

Concert listings, season introductions, streaming descriptions and campaign copy. Clear information about the work, performers and occasion, with a particular reason to pay attention.

Artist biographies and features

A biography should help a reader understand the artist, not leave them sorting through a list of credits. I shape CVs, notes and interview material into profiles and features with an appropriate voice and a clear sense of purpose.

Publication editing

Structure, tone, consistency and sentence-level editing for programs, brochures and cultural publications. I flag unclear claims and missing information, and help contributions from different writers read comfortably together.

Selected work for the Melbourne Symphony Orchestra

My work at the MSO included 32 concert programs and copy for 64 streaming releases. That meant moving between detailed musical explanation and short introductions, with close attention to names, repertoire and the intended reader.

Britten’s War Requiem

How do you introduce a work with large musical forces, a complex history and poetry at its heart? This concert and streaming copy gives the listener a way into the work before introducing the performance.

Read the MSO concert and streaming copy

Ethel Smyth’s The Wreckers

A program note on the overture to Smyth’s opera: an example of writing that brings a less familiar work into focus for a concert audience.

Read the Ethel Smyth program note

Find more concert writing and editorial samples in my portfolio, or read about my background in music, research and writing.

From source material to publication

You might have a repertoire list and a deadline, a draft biography, or several contributors’ texts that need editing. We’ll establish what the reader needs, what material is available and where further research is required.

Agree the scope. Format, word count, audience, fee, deadline and revision rounds are confirmed before work begins.
Develop and review the draft. I write or edit against the brief, flag questions and work through consolidated feedback from your team.
Prepare the handover. You receive the agreed copy or edited document for your publication or website. Any proof-stage review can be included in the quote.

For a season or recurring publication, we can agree a schedule across several pieces. For a first collaboration, one paid brief is a useful place to start.

Before you commission

Do you work beyond classical music?

Classical music is my strongest specialist area. I also welcome arts, cultural and editorial briefs where my research and writing experience is a good fit. Send the subject and source material so I can assess the scope honestly.

Can you work with our house style?

Yes. Share your style guide, past publications and examples of the tone you want. Tell me who approves factual details and who will bring the team’s feedback together.

What does arts copywriting cost?

I quote for the research, length, format and review process involved. A short listing based on supplied material is a different job from a researched program note. For general website and editing briefs, see my copywriting and editing packages.

What are you bringing to an audience?

Send the publication or event, the pieces you need, approximate lengths and your deadline. A link to an existing program or a few notes is enough to start the conversation.

Send me your arts writing brief