With the increasing ubiquity of electronic technology, the centuries-old position of the page-turner is becoming a scarcer occupation. On iPads and other digital devices, musicians can turn their own pages by means of wireless pedals and other technologies, and a story in the Independent tells the stories of a few people who may be among the last of the page-turners.
"A skill rather than an art," writes veteran page-turner Simon Usborne, "it has not changed for centuries, and tends to be undertaken by ushers at concert halls, many of them aspiring musicians."
As page-turning jobs dry up, some prospective page-turners are already nostalgic. "It's an incredible opportunity for us to be able to sit on stage and be part of the performance process," says Kate Telfer, a mezzo-soprano who also serves as an usher at Wigmore Hall.
On the other hand—so to speak—others might not miss the necessity of shepherding a score while it's performed. "maybe there'll be general relief," speculates pianist Sam Haywood. "I'm not sure that there are many enthusiastic page turners."
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