DOS Orchestra #2 - 27 June 94
News from the world of professional orchestras.
Copyright 1994, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
Topics
American Symphony Orchestra League Convention
The American Symphony Orchestra League held its annual conference in Dallas
from June 15 to June 18. Two years ago, the League presented a report at
its annual conference which has become known as the "Wolf Report,"
after its author, consultant Thomas Wolf, which claimed to identify an industry-wide
crisis and prescribed some solutions. Last year, the League presented "Americanizing
the American Orchestra," which attracted a firestorm of criticism from
the moment of its release. Critics ranged from managers of major orchestras
to ICSOM to New York Times chief critic Edward Rothstein, who ended his
article on the report by stating "this report is a disgrace,"
and conservative critic Samuel Lipman, who called for the dissolution of
the ASOL.
In an apparent attempt to avoid such negative publicity, the theme of this
year's ASOL Conference was "Celebrate Excellence," even though
much thought, energy, and discussion still seemed to be focused on the reports
from previous conferences and the issues and furor they raised. At one panel,
"The Pursuit of Excellence," Ernest Fleischmann, managing director
of the Los Angeles Philharmonic, urged panelists to send their conclusions
about what constituted excellence directly to the leadership of the ASOL.
According to Edward Rothstein's article on the Conference in the New York
Times, "the League, he implied, did not even know what was meant by
the word; it was being invoked, (Fleischmann) said, in order to 'correct
the impressions' left by last year's report."
Jane Alexander, chair of the National Endowment for the Arts, gave the Conference's
opening address. She said that "orchestras should never compromise
their artistic ambition," but that excellence was "a slippery
concept." She went on to say that "we must integrate the arts
into the community, and orchestras are uniquely positioned to lead the way."
-- from newspaper articles
Chicago Lyric Opera in the Black for Seventh Consecutive Year
At the annual meeting of the Lyric Opera of Chicago, General Director Ardis
Krainik reported that the company posted an operating surplus for the seventh
consecutive season. This year's surplus was $767,478, up from last season's
surplus of $737,165. Subscription sales were at a record 36,300, although
36,600 subscriptions have already been sold for next year's season. The
Lyric also raised a record amount of contributed income, $10.4 million,
while box office receipts were $15.3 million, up from last year's $14.1
million. The percentage of operating costs covered by earned revenues rose
to 67 percent from 65 percent in 1993. The so-called "earned income
percentage" is considered a key measure of financial health for non-profit
performing arts groups, and the Lyric Opera has recently performed significantly
better than the norm for both major US opera companies and orchestras.
-- from newspaper articles
Chicago Symphony
Goes Country To Raise Big Bucks
Crystal Gayle performed with the Chicago
Symphony and raised $400,000 for the orchestra at the CSO's fifth annual
Corporate Night fundraiser, held during the week of June 13. More than 100
Chicago-area firms bought ticket packages ranging from $1,500 to $5,000
for the concert. CSO Marketing Director Joyce Idema said that the CSO has
raised more than $1 million from the event in its five-year history. Nancy
Kempf, chair of the event, described it as "a way to broaden our supporters
list. Rather than just attract ... investment bankers, this attracts all
sorts of firms... we even have a wrecking company."
Milwaukee
Symphony: Another Scandal
The Milwaukee Sentinel published an article
on June 23 that said that Milwaukee Symphony Executive Director Joan H.
Squires received a proposal for a summer season almost two months ago, but
shared it neither with the President of the MSO Board nor with the musicians.
According to the article, Board President Edwin P. Wiley obtained a copy
of the proposal from an Indianapolis-based consultant at the American Symphony
Orchestra League Convention last weekend. The report describes a financial
model that results in an average annual profit of $100,00 over a five-year
period.
Wiley said "if there is a possibility of doing anything like this on
a basis that's even close to break-even, then we should consider it."
The head of the Players' Council, Robert Levine, said "we haven't been
told anything about this, which is disappointing in view of the clear contractual
commitment that this kind of information would be immediately shared with
us. I also hope that we haven't wasted a wonderful idea for a summer home
for the MSO."
Squires said "the proposal is not a summer performance opportunity
in that it doesn't involve specific concerts. It's a long-term projection
for a summer venue that involves lengthy analysis."
A clause in the new collective bargaining agreement, which was ratified
on March 2, 1994, states that "any approach by outside parties with
respect to summer performance opportunities will be immediately shared with
the Players' Council and the Artistic Liaison Committee."
-- from newspaper articles
National Endowment
Budget Under Attack; Cut by House
On June 23, the US House of Representatives
voted to cut the 1995 budget of the National Endowment for the Arts by $3.4
million, which represents 2 percent of the 1994 budget amount of $170.2
million. The Clinton administration had asked for an increase of $1 million
over last year's budget.
The vote of 380 to 41 to cut the budget came after several attempts by Republicans
to impose deeper cuts or completely do away with the NEA.
The focus of the debate was $125 of NEA money that Ron Athey received for
a performance at the Walker Art Center in Minneapolis on March 5, during
which Mr. Athey, who is HIV-positive, drew blood from himself and an HIV-negative
assistant with needles, soaked up the blood with paper towels, and hung
the towels on a clothesline above the audience. The Walker's total grant
from the NEA was $104,000 for this year.
Representative Robert Dornan, Republican of California, a vociferous opponent
of the NEA, said "I can't comprehend the mystery of how these porno
freaks keep getting this money. Representative Norman Dicks, Democrat of
Washington, said "They are just seizing on this to criticize the NEA.
We've had over 100,000 grants, and only about 50 have been controversial."
The measure now goes to the Senate.
-- from newspaper articles
Toronto Symphony
Musicians Agree to Further Concessions
On May 30, the musicians of
the Toronto Symphony voted to modify the terms of their current collective
bargaining agreement that apply to the 1994-95 season, the final season
covered by the three-year agreement ratified in 1992.
The original terms of the agreement called for a season of 44 weeks at a
base weekly scale of $1,220 ($ Can), which would almost have restored the
base annual salary to the point it was before the 1992 negotiations. As
modified, the agreement provides for 42 weeks at $1,167,25, for a loss in
annual income of over $4,500 per musician from the original amount provided
by the contract. The new figure represents a 1.5% increase over the current
salary.
An additional 1.5% will be placed in a special segregated fund administered
by the Toronto Musicians' Association, Local 149 AFM. This money can only
be used to maintain an effective cash flow or eradicate any operating deficit
for the 1994-95 season.
In exchange for the wage cuts, musicians were able to gain a number of significant
concessions from the Toronto Symphony Association. The major provisions
were:
Musicians no longer need permission to attend auditions for other jobs;
they simply notify management of their intention to attend;
Additional maternity leave without pay (up to 52 weeks);
Initial qualification period for paid sabbatical reduced from 10 years to
7 years.
If requested by the orchestra committee, the TSA will undertake to retain
a mutually acceptable expert in the field of mutual interest bargaining
for the upcoming negotiations in the spring of 1995;
An annual "Town Hall Meeting" shall be held including all persons
directly connected with the TS (Music Director, staff, musicians, board,
Women's Committee and volunteers). The purpose of the meeting shall be to
discuss the future plans and current operational situation facing the TS.
There are to be monthly meetings of a subcommittee formed from the Town
Hall Meeting participants to address the issues brought forward at the main
meeting;
A joint committee of board and musicians will be formed to deal with the
ongoing problems between the TS and Roy Thomson Hall (its major performance
venue).
In addition, the senior managers have taken a 10% pay cut and 2 weeks unpaid
vacation.
This renegotiation was precipitated by the orchestra's financial condition,
which led to management's not issuing personal service contracts to the
musicians, as required by the terms of the collective bargaining agreement,
and the subsequent grievance filed by the TS musicians. Sources within the
TS report that management threatened to declare bankruptcy if the musicians
did not agree to renegotiate the final year of the contract.
In 1992, the TS musicians agreed to a reduction of their season from 50
weeks to 42 weeks, with a one-year freeze on their weekly income at $1,150
per week ($ Can). The agreement reached at that time called for recovery
in both weeks and wages over the three- year term of the agreement.
Music Director Gunther Herbig informed a group of musicians at a post-concert
gathering near the end of this season that he had heard nothing from the
Board of Directors for two years, except for one phone call from the President
of the Board informing him that his contract would not be renewed. He also
said that he had requested to speak to the Board five months ago, and had
never received a response to that request.
-- from OCSM bulletins, other sources
Wheeling
Symphony Conductor Nominated to National Panel
Rachel Worby, Music
Director of the Wheeling (West Virginia) Symphony, has been nominated to
the National Council on the Arts by President Bill Clinton. The Executive
Committee of the Pittsburgh Musicians Union, which has 40 members who perform
with the Wheeling Symphony, has voted to oppose Worby's confirmation, and
has provided the Senate Committee on Labor and Human Resources with the
names of 10 musicians, including 8 former members of the Wheeling Symphony,
who are willing to tell their own "Worby stories."
Philip Slaugh, president of the Pittsburgh Musicians Union, said "the
law requires that a member of the council be an outstanding person in the
field of arts, and we don't feel she is that. We think that, at best, she's
a mediocre musician and conductor."
Earl Summers Jr., president of the Wheeling local of the American Federation
of Musicians and a member of the Wheeling Symphony until his retirement
in 1990, said "she treats musicians very badly. She's a perfect clone
of Leona Helmsley."
According to an article in the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, "the conductor's
opponents have focused much attention on her resume." Although Worby
had studied at both Indiana University and Brandeis University, she earned
degrees at neither institution, although, according to the Post-Gazette
article, "her biography in at least two annual symphony programs mentions
a master's degree from Indiana, (while) the short biography released by
the White House when she was nominated by the president said she held a
degree from Brandeis." Worby's publicist, Mary Lou Falcon, said "those
things are their mistakes," while Laura Willumson, the Executive Director
of the Wheeling Symphony, said that Worby's biography in the symphony programs
came from the conductor.
Since Worby's arrival as Music Director in 1986, the orchestra's annual
budget has grown from $300,000 to $1 million, and its concert season has
increased from 14 to 33 concerts. In addition, its touring and runout program
has grown substantially, from one out-of-town concert in 1990 to 17 this
season.
Worby, 45, is married to West Virginia Governor Gaston Caperton, a Democrat.
-- from newspaper articles
Publications
**Symphony** (American Symphony Orchestra League magazine) Volume 45,
#2 July/August 1994 Directing Diversity - creating successful Board partnerships
with a diverse population Planning for Planning - creating plans that help
make management decisions and shape artistic growth Celebrating Commitment
- annual tribute to outstanding board leadership Orpheus in the Everyday
World - the New Residencies program connects composers to communities Advancing
the Art - orchestras in Eugene, Elgin, and Vermont use NEA Advancement Program
funding.
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