DOS Orchestra #32 - 22 February, 1995

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

Topics

Chicago Symphony: Benefit Concert for Injured Musician

from the management of the Chicago Symphony:

The Chicago Symphony Orchestra and The Music Center of the North Shore will present a benefit concert for violinist Rachel Barton, who was injured last month in a train accident, on Monday, March 27, 7:30 PM, at Orchestra Hall, 220 South Michigan Avenue. Music Director Daniel Barenboim will lead Members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in a program featuring performances by Wendy Warner, cello and Jennifer Koh, violin. Both have soloed with the Orchestra as past winners of the Illinois Young Performers Competition and are former students of The Music Center of the North Shore. Chamber groups from The Music Center of the North Shore will also appear in the first half of the benefit program. WBBM-TV anchor and reporter Lauren Green will host the event. All benefit participants are donating their services.

Twenty-year-old Rachel Barton, an accomplished soloist and musician, has performed with orchestras across Europe and North America, including the Chicago Symphony Orchestra and the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. She has long been affiliated with The Music Center of the North Shore as both a student and teacher.

Tickets are $15 to $150; Benefactor tickets are available at $200 and $250, and include a reception immediately following the concert. For more information, call PhoneCharge at (312) 435 6666 or stop by the Orchestra Hall Box Office.

All proceeds from the event will be used to offset Ms. Barton's rehabilitation expenses. Those who cannot attend the benefit may make tax-deductible contributions to St. Paul's United Church of Christ, Rachel Barton Fund, c/o Reverend Tom Henry, 2335 N. Orchard, Chicago, 60614; or the Rachel Barton Fund c/o United Credit Union, 4444 S. Pulaski Road, Chicago, 60632.

Florida Philharmonic: In with the Old

from the management of the Florida Philharmonic:

Florida Philharmonic Chairman Martin Coyne today announced that John Graham will return to the orchestra as Executive Director at the earliest mutually agreeable time. In that capacity, Mr. Graham be responsible for all facets of the management of the $9 million operation.

"After conducting an exhaustive national search, the Board came to the realization that the very best candidate was right in our own backyard. In John Graham, we have a leader who already possesses an intimate understanding of the workings of the orchestra and the community it serves," said Mr. Coyne in announcing the appointment. "The search committee unanimously recommended his reappointment to the orchestra." Mr. Graham had previously served the orchestra as Executive Director from 1991-1992.

"My admiration and respect James Judd, Peter Nero, and the orchestra have grown tremendously over the last two years," commented Mr. Graham. "I look forward with great pleasure to rejoining the Philharmonic team and working with the orchestra's many friends and supporters. I am particularly grateful to Chairman Martin Coyne and his colleagues on the board, who have worked so hard during difficult times to keep the Philharmonic moving forward."

During the interim since Mr. Graham left the Philharmonic in 1992, he has been General Manager of the Concert Association of Florida, Vice President of C.W. Shaver, and has served as a consultant to numerous South Florida cultural, charitable and higher education clients as the Principal of Graham Arts Management Associates. Prior to joining the Philharmonic in 1991, Mr. Graham served as Associate Vice President and Director of Development for Southern Methodist University, Executive Director of the Oregon Symphony and Director of Development of the Seattle Symphony.

A nationally respected arts administrator, Mr. Graham has served on the Boards of Directors of the American Arts Alliance, American Symphony Orchestra League, Washington State Ad Hoc Committee for the Arts, Oregon Advocates for the Arts, Dallas Coalition for the Arts, and Florida Arts Advocates. He continues to serve on grant and peer review panels of the National Endowment for the Arts.

Mr. Graham holds a Masters Degree in Public Administration from the University of Washington and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Virginia and served in the US Navy for seven years.

Members of the Florida Philharmonic Executive Director Search Committee, which was chaired by John Arbib, included Martin Coyne, Music Director James Judd, Richard Cash, Harold Klebanoff, Steve Krakow, Ralph Leach,Jack Firestone, and Bobbi Litt representing the Board, Don Nelson and Geoffrey Hale for the musicians, and Bonnie Arnold for the staff.

(end of statement from management)

Graham replaces William Vickery, who resigned from the executive director position on October 18, 1994. Vickery's departure followed a labor negotiation which severely strained the relationship between the orchestra and management.

Glendale Symphony: New Interim Music Director

The Glendale (CA) Symphony has announced that Keith Clark, founder of the Pacific Symphony Orchestra of Orange County (CA), has been named as artistic director for the coming season while a search proceeds to find a permanent replacement for Lalo Schifrin, music director since 1989.

Clark left the Pacific Symphony in 1990. Since then, he has assumed positions with the Czech Radio Symphony Orchestra and the Slovak State Philharmonic Orchestra and has recorded with the London Philharmonic and the Korean Symphony Orchestra.

Comparing Clark to Schifrin, Noel Veden, president of the orchestra's board, told the Los Angeles "Daily News" that "I think Keith Clark's signature is much more symphonic. I think he's classically trained, and he leans much more towards the recognizable classics."

While the board is putting together a search committee, Clark has already expressed some interest in the permanent position. "Sure, I would hope that we will be to each other's liking," he told the "Daily News."

The orchestra, which performs five programs a season, has an annual budget of approximately $500,000.

Milwaukee Symphony: New Tubist

The Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra has hired Alan Baer as the orchestra's tubist, management announced on February 13.

Baer, who won a national audition held in late January, has been the tubist of the Long Beach (CA) Symphony since 1992. He has also been the tubist of the New Orleans Symphony and its successor organization, the Louisiana Philharmonic, and has performed with the Cleveland Orchestra, the Los Angeles Philharmonic, and the Ojai Festival Orchestra.

Baer was a finalist at the 1991 Geneva Competition, and won the Pasadena Symphony Young Artist Competition and the Cleveland Institute of Music Concerto Competition in 1989.

Baer received a Bachelor of Music degree from the Cleveland Institute of Music in 1989, and has also studied at the University of California at Los Angeles.

National Endowment: Clinton Proposes Budget Increase

President Bill Clinton's proposed federal budget for FY 1996 includes a $5.1 million increase in the budget for the National Endowment for the Arts, an agency currently under threat of extinction by the Republican-controlled Congress. The budget also includes a $1.1 million increase for the Institute for Museum Services, but a cut in the budget for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting of 6% beginning in FY 1998.

Rep. Ralph Regula (R-OH), who chairs the House committee responsible for oversight of the NEA, told the Washington "Post" that "I don't believe they have caught on to the fact that we will be decreasing budgets, not increasing them."

Other news about the NEA includes a motion of support passed by the Los Angeles City Council, which becomes the first such body to officially voice support for the embattled agency. Council member Joel Wachs, who authored the motion, said that "the arts are critical to a livable city. They enhance both the quality of life and economic vitality of Los Angeles. The NEA must be preserved."

Omaha Symphony: New Music Director

The Omaha Symphony has engaged Victor Yampolsky as its new music director, orchestra officials announced on February 14. His appointment will begin in September.

Yampolsky, 52, is on the faculty of Northwestern University in Chicago. He is also music director of the Peninsula Music Festival, a summer festival in Door County (WI), and resident conductor of the Civic Orchestra of Chicago. He was music director of the Atlantic Symphony Orchestra in Halifax, Nova Scotia, from 1977 to 1982.

Yampolsky, who began his career as a violinist with the Moscow Philharmonic, was principal second violinist with the Boston Symphony Orchestra from 1975 to 1977. While in Moscow, he also served as assistant conductor under Kyril Kondrashin.

Roland Valliere, the orchestra's executive director, said "Maestro Yampolsky brings an extraordinary array of talent and experiences to the Omaha Symphony. We are truly blessed to have attracted an artist of his magnitude and character."

Yampolsky told the Omaha "World-Herald" that "it is the greatest day of my life, because I now have my own first-class American orchestra. It's a dream day."

Local press coverage focused heavily on the fact that Yampolsky is not planning on moving to Omaha. Dr. Pat Brookhouser, past president of the orchestra's board of directors and head of the search committee, told the "World-Herald" that "I'll bet he spends more time here than a ConAgra vice-president does. Omaha is a city that grows on people, and I think he will find this a very pleasant place to be, and it wouldn't surprise me to see him move here. We don't feel that's absolutely mandatory, because of the nature of the field today." ConAgra is a local agribusiness company.

Yampolsky pointed out that Omaha was only an hour away from Chicago by plane.

Yampolsky replaces Bruce Hangen, who has served as music director since 1984. Hangen will remain on the roster as conductor laureate.

Yampolsky has announced his intention to resign his position with the Civic Orchestra of Chicago, although he has said that he will remain at Northwestern at least through 1995-96, which is the music school's centennial year. He will also become principal conductor of the National Symphony of South Africa in the summer of 1996.

Pennsylvania Ballet: Music Director Out

The management of the Pennsylvania Ballet announced the immediate departure of company music director and conductor Richard Rosenberg on February 15.

Rosenberg stated that "since Christopher d'Amboise's departure from Pennsylvania Ballet last season, the Company's artistic style and methods have greatly changed. Despite our best efforts, Roy Kaiser and I have been unable to reach an understanding that would allow us to continue our working relationship, so my departure at this time is regretfully necessary. I wish Pennsylvania Ballet the very best of luck in all its future endeavors.

Roy Kaiser, artistic director of the company, said that "it's simply about different ways of working. During this past season, it had become increasingly clear that both Richard's and the Ballet's artistic styles were not meshing. It was with regret that we realized, despite concentrated efforts to reach consensus, that for our mutual benefit the relationship could not continue. We wish Richard continued success in his career, and thank him for all he's given to Pennsylvania Ballet."

Rosenberg had been music director of the company since 1992, after having served a season as guest conductor. He is currently music director of the Texas Chamber Orchestra, and has been a member of the conducting staffs of the Oakland Symphony, the Baltimore Symphony, the Aspen Music Festival, and the London Classical Players. He was an apprentice to Wolfgang Sawallish at the Bavarian State Opera and to Leonard Bernstein at the New York Philharmonic.

Company management said that guest conductors will be hired to replace Rosenberg for the remainder of the season, and that a search will begin shortly for a permanent replacement.

Philadelphia Orchestra: Musician Alleges Sexual Harassment

Kathleen A. Vigilante, a bassoonist with the Philadelphia Orchestra, has filed a federal lawsuit against the orchestra seeking cash damages. The suit alleges that the orchestra's management allowed sexual harassment by Mark Gigliotti, the orchestra's associate principal bassoon, to create a "hostile and abusive work environment" which caused her "anguish, stress and humiliation."

The lawsuit claims that Gigliotti displayed "bizarre and unnerving conduct" that "took on menacing and sexual overtones," and that the orchestra knew of the situation but did nothing to stop it. The suit goes on to claim that Gigliotti's conducted included "alternately verbally abusing and harassing her, seeking her attention and friendship, and trying to undercut her professional standing when he is angry with her rebuffs." The suit also alleges that Gigliotti "has touched [her] in an unwelcome fashion after she specifically requested that he stop this activity" on many occasions.

Gigliotti told the Philadelphia "Inquirer" that "the only thing I can say is the charges of harassment that have been made against me are completely untrue. When and if it goes to trial and the facts come out, my reputation will be cleared. I think this is a problem between Kathy and the management."

Mark Dichter, a lawyer for the orchestra, told the paper that he was surprised by the suit. "When we met on those complaints with the Pennsylvania Human Rights commission and her lawyer last April, [Vigilante] indicated there were not any problems since summer of 1993, and when I talked with her lawyer earlier this week, he also confirmed there had not been any incidents." Vigilante's attorney, Patrick M. McHugh, told the "Inquirer" that he believes that "the offending conduct has ended," and that the suit was filed because "it occurred, and it went on for months."

Vigilante earlier filed two complaints against the orchestra with the state Human Relations Commission. The first, which was filed in 1993, claimed that the orchestra engaged in gender discrimination by paying her less than comparable male employees who performed the same work. The second complaint, which was filed in 1994, claims that the orchestra took "various actions, at variance with established policy or practice, in order to retaliate against" her for filing the first complaint.

McHugh said that the sexual discrimination and harassment charges are also being investigated by the federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. The complaint filed with the EEOC alleges that, between July 1988 and June 1993, she was not offered a tenured position with the orchestra "despite having met all the terms and conditions for doing so."

Phoenix Symphony: High School Pit Stop

Members of the Phoenix Symphony helped the Paradise Valley Unified School District put on a production of Shakespeare's "Midsummer Nights' Dream." The musicians performed Felix Mendelssohn's incidental music to the play with student musicians from Shadow Mountain and Horizon High Schools. The orchestra for the production, which ran from February 15 - 18, was conducted by PSO associate conductor Clotilde Otranto.

The Phoenix Symphony also assisted the school district with ticket sales by making tickets available through its ticket office.

Saint Louis Symphony: Ensembles to Perform in Kobe

Ensembles from the Saint Louis Symphony, under the direction of music director Leonard Slatkin, will perform a free "Encouragement Concert" in Kobe on February 23 for victims of last month's Honshin earthquake.

The concert will feature approximately 20 of the orchestra's musicians performing works for small ensembles. Slatkin will conduct some of the works and also play continuo. The main concert hall in Kobe has been closed because of damage from the quake, necessitating the use of a smaller facility that was not big enough to house the entire orchestra.

The concert will be presented the day after the orchestra's arrival in Japan. Normally, American orchestras touring Japan have several days free after arrival from the United States to recover from jet lag.

San Francisco Symphony: City Offers to Settle Ball Dispute

The mayor of Palo Alto (CA), which has been threatened with legal action by the San Francisco Symphony for its plans to use the name "Black and White Ball" for its Recreation Foundation fundraiser, has offered to pay the orchestra $1 per year to use the name.

Mayor Joe Simitian sent a settlement proposal to the orchestra on February 15. He told the San Jose "Mercury News" that "we're trying hard to avoid an argument and focus on the arts and youth programs these [balls] are supposed to benefit. Splitting legal hairs is in no one's best interests." The settlement proposal also included offers not to sell tickets to the city's ball through any of the same vendors that the orchestra uses and to refrain from advertising in the two daily San Francisco newspapers.

The orchestra's lawyers said in response that they would review the proposal and make a counteroffer.

The San Francisco Symphony registered the name "Black and White Ball" three years ago. The ball, which has been held annually since 1956, raises approximately $1 million for the orchestra. Palo Alto has held its own Black and White ball for the past nine years. Since the orchestra registered the name, it has actively and successfully 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.

Ukrainian National Symphony: New Music Director

Theodor Kuchar, an American of Ukrainian descent, was named music director of the Ukrainian National Symphony Orchestra on February 15.

Kuchar, 35, is a graduate of the Cleveland Institute as a violinist. He has been music director of the Cleveland Philharmonic since 1987.

Deaths

Haymo Taeuber, founder of the Iran State Symphony Orchestra and Philharmonic Choir and former director of the Vienna Boys Choir after World War II, died on February 9 in Monterey (CA) of cancer. He was 87.

Taeuber began his career as an opera conductor, serving as resident conductor in Graz and Breslau. He was a frequent guest conductor at the Vienna Symphony. His last position was as music director of the Monterey County Symphony from 1965 to 1985. He received the Imperial Order or Arts and Science from the Iranian government for his work with the Iran State Symphony Orchestra, becoming the first foreigner to receive the award.
Copyright 1995, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians

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