DOS Orchestra #30 - 9 February, 1995

News from the world of professional orchestras.
Copyright 1995, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians

Topics

Akron Symphony: Funding Increased After Cuts Proposed

After some members of the Akron City Council proposed cuts in funding for summer programs of the Akron Symphony and other local arts groups, advocates of such funding packed a hearing on January 30. The effort paid off; the budget for the summer programs of the Akron Symphony, the Ohio Ballet and the Akron Art Museum were left untouched, while an additional $10,500 was found for nine additional concerts by local bands in city parks.

Councilman Robert Otterman (D.- at large) told the Akron "Beacon Journal" that "in my 25 years down here, this is the largest crowd I've ever seen at a parks and recreation committee meeting."

The fight over arts funding was triggered by the desire of several members of the Council to divert money now used for the summer arts programs to keep neighborhood community centers open for longer hours.

The Council is expected to formally approve the contracts with the three groups next week. The Akron Ballet is set to receive $63,000 for six performances, while the Akron Symphony will receive $35,000 for four performances. The art museum will receive $25,000 to provide a concert series called "Downtown at Dusk."

Arizona Opera: Grand Canyon Ring

Arizona Opera General Director Glynn Ross has announced that the company will mount a complete production of Wagner's "Der Ring des Nibelungen" in Flagstaff (AZ) in June 1996, with two complete performances of the cycle in a two-week period.

According to information from the company management, "Flagstaff has been chosen as the Festival site for its close proximity to the natural splendors of Arizona. The mountain city is nestled among a ponderosa pine forest and hosts the outstanding facilities of Ardrey Auditorium, Northern Arizona University, an easily accessible airport, wide variety of hotels and restaurants and cool summer temperatures. Ardrey Auditorium is conveniently located in the center of the Northern Arizona University campus and its intimate space resembles the hallowed halls of the Bayreuth theater. In accordance with Arizona Opera's requirements for the colossal "Ring" orchestra, Northern Arizona University will expand the orchestra pit to accommodate the musicians."

"By presenting the 'Ring' in northern Arizona we are enabling people to experience the 'Ring' like never before," Ross said. "The breathtaking natural wonders of Arizona, such as the Grand Canyon, the Red Rocks of Sedona, Monument Valley, and the Painted Desert will give them an enhanced 'Ring' experience that cannot be rivaled."

Henry Holt will be the artistic director and conductor for the cycle, while the stage director will be Claus Konig. Amy Shock will design the sets and Peter J. Hall will design the costumes. The cycle will be sung in German with English surtitles. According to the company, "Arizona Opera's presentations will follow the style of Wieland Wagner's neo-Bayreuth."

The Phoenix Symphony is the orchestra for the Arizona Opera.

Boston Symphony: New Conductor for Pops

The board of the Boston Symphony Orchestra voted on February 3 to accept the recommendation of managing director Kenneth Haas that Keith Lockhart be appointed the new conductor of the Boston Pops. Lockhart will succeed John Williams to become only the third musician to hold the post.

Lockhart, 35, has been associate conductor of the Cincinnati Symphony and Cincinnati Pops since 1992. His selection follows a two-year search for Williams' replacement, a process in which both Williams and BSO music director Seiji Ozawa were involved, as well as members of the orchestra and board of directors.

Lockhart is a graduate of Furman and Carnegie-Mellon universities. He made his Pops debut in 1993 and conducted the Pops several times last summer. He has also conducted the Los Angeles Philharmonic, where he attended the orchestra's Institute for young conductors, as well as the Toronto Symphony and the Chicago Symphony.

Chicago Symphony: Perahia Cancels

from the management of the Chicago Symphony:

Pianist Murray Perahia has been forced to cancel his appearances with the Chicago Symphony Orchestra on February 16 and 18 due to illness. Walter Ponce will replace Mr. Perahia. The program (consisting of the Beethoven "Emperor" concerto and the Bruckner Symphony #1, with Sir Georg Solti conducting) remains the same.

Cleveland Orchestra: New Principal Second Violin

The Cleveland Orchestra has announced that Stephen Majeske has been appointed principal second violin. Majeske succeeds the late Bernhard Goldschmidt, who died in October.

In announcing the appointment, Musical Arts Association executive director Thomas Morris said that "Stephen's 15 years with the Cleveland Orchestra have clearly demonstrated that his impeccable musicianship and wonderful playing make him not only uniquely suited for this important position, but will provide the orchestra with a continuity of leadership that is essential."

Majeske, who is the son of the late Daniel Majeske, concertmaster of the Cleveland Orchestra from 1955 until his death in 1993, joined the orchestra in 1979 as a member of the first violin section. Before joining the orchestra, Majeske had been a member of the Minnesota Orchestra.

Majeske studied at the Curtis Institute, where he was a student of Ivan Galamian.

Florida Orchestra: Out of Debt

Officials of the Florida Orchestra announced on January 31 that the orchestra has eliminated a debt of $3 million with the assistance of a gift of $1 million from George Steinbrenner, who owns the New York Yankees baseball club and is a resident of Tampa.

Steinbrenner told the Miami "Herald" that "this is a message. What we have to do is preserve the arts just like we do sports. This is a great day for the arts and for education in Tampa."

The announcement marks a dramatic turnaround for a fund drive that, as recently as November, appeared to be falling dangerously short of its goal. At that time, orchestra officials were raising the possibility that the orchestra might have to cease operations in a month.

Florida Philharmonic: Staffer Promoted to Marketing Spot

from the management of the Florida Philharmonic, February 2:

Florida Philharmonic General Manager Frank Kistler today announced that Bonnie Arnold has been promoted to the position of Director of Marketing and Public Relations, effective immediately. As such, Ms. Arnold will be responsible for all facets of the orchestra's sales, promotional, and publicity efforts.

"The Philharmonic has reached a point in its growth where it is ready to embark on an international imaging campaign and we realized that it was in the best interest of the institution to bring the marketing and public relations functions together under one highly experienced professional to solidify our message," said Mr. Kistler. "Fortunately for us, that person, Bonnie Arnold, has been on staff making significant contributions to the organization for four seasons."

Ms. Arnold joined the Philharmonic in 1991 as the Director of Public Relations, having previously held that same post with the Philadelphia Orchestra. She has also served as Publicity Manager of The Rockefeller Group, Rockefeller Center and Radio City Music Hall, and as Director of Concert Press for Carnegie Hall.

A native of Pittsburgh, Ms. Arnold attended Carnegie-Mellon University and graduated from Chatham College with honors. She resides in Boca Raton with her husband, opera singer Malcolm Arnold, and son, Andrew.

Memphis Symphony: New Operations Manager Comes Aboard

The Memphis Symphony has hired John Derby, 42, to replace Mark Savage as operations manager.

Derby has been company manager for Opera Memphis since 1993, when he retired from the US Navy. Derby's last posting in the Navy was as assistant director of the local Navy Band. He is a guitarist and singer.

"My last years in the Navy, I was an administrator who made sure bunches of musicians got places they needed to be... at the opera, I was called company manager, and it was closely related to what I did in the service the last few years and what I'll do for the orchestra," Derby told the Memphis "Commercial Appeal."

Savage left the orchestra to become operations manager for the Indianapolis Symphony. He was one of the only remaining members of the senior staff from the period before Martha Ellen Maxwell became the orchestra's executive director in late 1993.

Milwaukee Symphony: New Principal Horn

The Milwaukee Symphony has announced that William Barnewitz has been appointed MSO principal horn. His appointment will begin in September 1995.

Barnewitz is currently associate principal horn of the Utah Symphony. Before coming to Utah, he was principal horn of the Sacramento Symphony, and has also played with the New York City Opera, the American Symphony, St. Luke's Ensemble, New York Chamber Soloists, and the San Diego and Oakland symphonies.

Barnewitz won first prize at the 1992 American Horn Competition, after having won second prize in 1987.

He replaces Paul Tervelt, long-time MSO principal horn, who decided during a leave of absence for the 1993-94 season to return to the orchestra as fourth horn, a position that had come open as a result of a termination in the horn section.

Barnewitz's selection comes after several rounds of auditions. After a national audition held in early 1994 did not produce a winner, a round of blind taped auditions was held. Barnewitz and three other candidates were invited to play with the orchestra for one- and two-week periods as a result of those auditions.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Major Grant for New Hall

The Philadelphia "Inquirer" reported on January 31 that the Philadelphia Orchestra has received a challenge grant of $5 million towards the construction of its new concert hall. The donation was made by an anonymous donor through the Foundation for New Era Philanthropy. According to the "Inquirer," "the gift had been contingent on the orchestra's raising an additional $5 million. The orchestra missed the deadline, the foundation says, but it was extended for an unspecified period."

The grant, if the terms were met, would bring the total of pledges to $110 million for the $140 million project. Other sources of funding for the 2,800 seat hall and 500-car garage include a one-for-two matching grant for $12 million from the Kimmel Foundation and $35 million in state funding, as well as $16 million in long-term financing.

The orchestra is also raising money for a $27 million renovation of its current home, the Academy of Music, as well as a drive to increase its endowment from approximately $60 million to $78 million.

San Francisco Symphony: Black and White Brawl

The San Francisco is feuding with the City of Palo Alto, a municipality 30 miles south of San Francisco, over the city's plans to hold its ninth annual Black & White Ball, a fundraiser for the city's recreation department. The problem is that the orchestra has a federally registered service mark (similar to a trademark) on the name. It has given its own Black & White Ball since 1956, a major fundraiser that raises roughly $1 million per year for the orchestra's operations.

The orchestra has actively discouraged the use of the name by other organizations, such as the Atlanta Symphony, the Napa Valley Conference Visitor's Bureau, and the Marin Association of Realtors. Mel Owen, service mark counsel to the orchestra, told the San Jose "Mercury News" that "when we find [other Black & White Balls], we object and suggest a change... if you don't enforce your rights, you lose them." But Palo Alto City Councilwoman Liz Kniss told the paper "I'm not going to be intimidated by San Francisco. It's a matter of pride."

The city and the orchestra met with a mediator last week, but were unable to come to an agreement. City Attorney Ariel Calonne told the "Mercury News" that symphony officials said last week that they would sue Palo Alto if the city did not agree to change the name, while Kniss told the paper "everything about this is ludicrous. It says they sure do take themselves seriously."

San Jose Symphony: PR Staffperson Leaves

Ann Marks, the San Jose Symphony staffer in charge of public relations for the orchestra, has left to take a job at Cal Performances at the University of California at Berkeley, a major Bay Area presenting organization. She follows orchestra marketing director Jenny Reik, who moved to Cal Performances last year.
Copyright 1995, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians

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