Issue: Secretary's Reports
The Musicians of The Cleveland Orchestra and the Cleveland Federation of Musicians, Local 4 AFM hosted this year’s ICSOM Conference on August 20–23 at the Crown Plaza Cleveland at Playhouse Square, beginning with an expanded new delegate orientation session held the evening before the start of the conference on Tuesday evening. Wednesday began with the traditional roll call of orchestras, … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
In this issue, you'll find a statement from the ICSOM Governing Board regarding individually negotiated agreements. This is a conversation we’ve been having for a long time, and it ties directly into the kind of culture change we’re trying to achieve in our orchestras. We understand that some members may not immediately see the connection between these agreements and broader workplace culture. … [Read more...]
Issue: June 2025
Following the horrific fires in Los Angeles this past January and the devastating effects on performing artists in the area, the musicians of the San Francisco Symphony (SFS) wanted to find a way to lend meaningful support to our fellow Californians. In SFS, we have a musicians’ action committee that supports our negotiating committee and initiates orchestra-wide projects and activities. Led by … [Read more...]
Issue: June 2025
Editor's note: These stories were written by two musicians of the LA Phil who were affected by the fires in Los Angeles January 2025 and compiled by Los Angeles Philharmonic Delegate Ted Botsford. Gratitude for the Orchestra Community by Marion Kuszyk, Los Angeles Philharmonic There are certain events in life that can change a person forever. The night of January 7 was one of those … [Read more...]
Issue: June 2025
Editor's note: The following statement was proposed and adopted at the Governing Board's midwinter meeting in Chicago, IL in March 2025. The ICSOM Governing Board believes that individually negotiated agreements do not serve the best interests of our orchestras and should be phased out in favor of entirely collectively negotiated agreements. Individually negotiated agreements undermine the … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2025
We often talk about labor organization in abstract, “what-if” terms, but recent events in Utah show how the power of a unified and organized community can fight to preserve our Salt Lake cultural heritage. This article demonstrates the collective mindset of musicians, community—and even politicians and board members—in the fight against losing our beloved Abravanel Hall and how a motivated and … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2025
In this issue of Senza Sordino, you’ll read about the recent and ongoing attempts to radically reshape downtown Salt Lake City, including the potential destruction of my own orchestra’s home, Abravanel Hall. This story echoes a broader reality: a community at the mercy of a billionaire’s ambitions and political leaders who lack the insight, strength, and skills to navigate the issue … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2025
The superstition lives on. For most of the Washington National Opera’s (WNO) “Look-in” performance of Verdi’s Macbeth (a children’s performance featuring excerpts from the opera as well as discussion about all the elements that go into making it), the host had insisted she could not say the name of the title character because, as a member of the production, it would bring bad luck for her to … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2025
The Syracuse Orchestra is no stranger to innovation. As one of two musician-led cooperative orchestras in the United States, we have been on a non-traditional path since our beginnings in 2012. After our name change in February 2024, we were presented with a unique opportunity that would help us increase awareness of our organization and further our mission. What if The Syracuse Orchestra … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2024
During the summer of 2023, the Eastern Music Festival (EMF) faculty artists voted in favor of representation by the Charlotte Musicians’ Association (American Federation of Musicians Local 342). Founded in 1962, EMF is a five-week summer music festival for high school and college students, located in Greensboro, North Carolina. There are currently 61 faculty artists and approximately 280 … [Read more...]
