An ICSOM "Call to Action"
for assistance to the musicians of the Louisville Orchestra
TO: all the musicians of ICSOM
FROM: the ICSOM Governing Board
Dear friends and colleagues,
As you are all no doubt aware, the musicians of the Louisville Orchestra are facing a Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing. The musicians’ contract expired at midnight on May 31, their health insurance has been cut off, and they are suddenly and egregiously unemployed. The musicians there will now continue to advocate for their orchestra and their community through their own 501c3 organization Keep Louisville Symphonic, but they need the support of their ICSOM colleagues across the nation in order to afford the COBRA payments they now must make.
The ICSOM Governing Board realizes that this is the fourth time this season that we have asked for contributions for orchestras in need. Never before have our orchestras faced such continuing attacks. Our previous Calls to Action this year have brought in nearly $300,000 for Detroit, over $55,000 for Syracuse, and ICSOM orchestras have donated nearly $30,000 to ROPA’s call for assistance to New Mexico. Syracuse is still in need of donations, and now it is crucial that we add Louisville as well. We are grateful to the musicians of the Pittsburgh Symphony, who have already announced a $5000 gift to Louisville on May 8.
We are issuing this call immediately, as soon many of our orchestras will be entering their off-season. Any amount of support, no matter how large or small, that you can offer our friends and colleagues in great need will be appreciated and helpful.
It is essential that the musicians of ICSOM respond whenever and wherever our members are in need. It is through our united network of orchestras that we can effectively articulate that a move against one of us is a move against all of us. In this way, we will demonstrate to all of our managements that our communities deserve positive stewardship of their cherished cultural institutions.
The musicians of the Louisville Orchestra need our financial support. We ask, and encourage, all the orchestras of ICSOM to consider making a financial donation to the cause. A donation from your treasury, or a collection taken by the members of your Players' Association, would be of great assistance. We are confident that all of the musicians in our ICSOM orchestras are eager to stand with their colleagues in Louisville, and anywhere there is a need..
We realize that this Call to Action is being issued in a year when many of our orchestras have faced their own cutbacks, and musicians everywhere are facing hardships. But it is truly when times are hardest that we must support each other the most and continue to stand with each other in solidarity.
Your support in these Calls to Action makes a tangible difference. In December, 2009 we issued a Call to Action for Honolulu, and today there is hope that the Honolulu Symphony is in the process of being reborn after a Chapter 7 filing, and a new CBA has been agreed to there. The generosity of ICSOM musicians in supporting all their colleagues in need is extraordinary, and now we need you again.
Wherever an orchestra is in trouble, let us all respond. Wherever a musician is in need, let us all respond. Wherever a negative image of the arts is produced, let us answer with a positive message of hope. As they hear our music, let them also hear our voices.
Let this serve as another "Call to Action" for our membership. What happens in Louisville will affect us all. If we effectively respond to every call, we will demonstrate the power in collective action. We can and will make a powerful statement to our managements and boards as we work to spread the positive community message of the musicians of ICSOM.
Checks can be made out to: Louisville Orchestra Musicians Association (LOMA)
Please send the donations to:
Kim Tichenor
146 North Hite Ave
Louisville, KY 40206
in solidarity,
Bruce Ridge,
chair, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM)
An ICSOM "Call to Action"
for assistance to the musicians of the Syracuse Symphony
TO: all the musicians of ICSOM
FROM: the ICSOM Governing Board
Dear friends and colleagues,
As you are all no doubt aware, the musicians of the Syracuse Symphony are facing a Chapter 7 bankruptcy filing, and they are suddenly and egregiously unemployed. The musicians there now will continue to advocate for their orchestra and their community, but they need the support of their ICSOM colleagues across the nation.
It is essential that the musicians of ICSOM respond whenever and wherever our members are in need. It is through our united network of orchestras that we can effectively articulate that a move against one of us is a move against all of us. In this way, we will demonstrate to all of our managements that our communities deserve positive stewardship of their cherished cultural institutions.
The musicians of the Syracuse Symphony need our financial support. We ask, and encourage, all the orchestras of ICSOM to consider making a financial donation to the cause. A donation from your treasury, or a collection taken by the members of your Players' Association, would be of great assistance. We are confident that all of the musicians in our ICSOM orchestras are eager to stand with their colleagues in Syracuse.
We realize that this Call to Action is being issued in a year when many of our orchestras have faced their own cutbacks, and musicians everywhere are facing hardships. But it is truly when times are hardest that we must support each other the most and continue to stand with each other in solidarity.
This is a time of difficulty for many of our members, and we all are currently watching developing situations in Philadelphia and Louisville as well. But there can be no doubt that things can improve, and your response to ICSOM’s various Calls to Action have had tangibly positive results. In December, 2009 we issued a Call to Action for Honolulu, and today there is hope that the Honolulu Symphony is in the process of being reborn after a Chapter 7 filing. The generosity of ICSOM musicians in supporting all their colleagues in need is extraordinary, and now we need you again.
Wherever an orchestra is in trouble, let us all respond. Wherever a musician is in need, let us all respond. Wherever a negative image of the arts is produced, let us answer with a positive message of hope. As they hear our music, let them also hear our voices.
Let this serve as another "Call to Action" for our membership. What happens in Syracuse will affect us all. Unfortunately, there can be no doubt that we will need to issue similar calls for action to assist other orchestras in the months and years ahead. But, if we effectively respond to every call, we will demonstrate the power in collective action. We can and will make a powerful statement to our managements and boards as we work to spread the positive community message of the musicians of ICSOM.
Checks can be made out to: Syracuse Symphony Musicians Relief Fund
Please send the donations to:
Syracuse Symphony Musicians Relief Fund
c/o 3009 Burnet Avenue
Syracuse, NY 13206
in solidarity,
Bruce Ridge,
chair, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM)