Issue: Counsel's Columns
Symphony orchestra musicians in the United States are increasingly consumed with a single, burning question: When and how can we come back to work? Surprisingly, it appears that in some orchestras, musicians have already been returning and performing to at least some degree—for example, in small ensembles for streaming concerts at the hall—while others seem to be moving ahead with plans to … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
In a week, our world changed. The pace and scope of changes that have overtaken our workplaces and our communities are almost without precedent in our lifetime. What began in January as news reports of a novel virus that had been discovered in distant China, morphed over a few days in the second week of March into a massive disruption of the work and lives of almost every ICSOM musician. The … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
In early February, before the domestic advent of the novel coronavirus and immediately following our midwinter ICSOM Governing Board meeting in Chicago, I traveled to Detroit to attend the SphinxConnect conference. Along with SSD Director Rochelle Skolnick, ROPA President John Michael Smith, and ICSOM President Paul Austin, our primary purpose in attending Sphinx was to participate in the … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
ICSOM’s online resources are recognized as being important to the arts world today and into the future. In February 2020, the US Library of Congress contacted ICSOM Chairperson Meredith Snow to inform us that our website was selected for inclusion in their historical collection of online materials. Their invitation stated that their web archives “… are important because they contribute to the … [Read more...]
Issue: Counsel's Columns
[Note: much of this article previously appeared in a message to ICSOM delegates on Delegate-L on March 10, and in the author’s blog post on March 12. Some of the material has been updated to reflect recent developments.] The COVID-19 pandemic has now severely impacted our orchestras. All ICSOM orchestras have cancelled performances and tours, for varying periods of time, sometimes voluntarily and … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
On January 30, 2020, the Boston Symphony announced the cancellation of its Asia tour due to novel coronavirus. The tour was scheduled for February 3–17, with eight sold-out concerts in Seoul, Taipei, Hong Kong, and Shanghai. Musicians of the BSO were asked to propose concert programs to present in lieu of the tour, as part of a “Chamber Music Neighborhood Tour.” These pop-up concerts were … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
It’s hard to believe that just a few months ago, as we sat in a finance committee meeting, the Baltimore Symphony Orchestra board treasurer told us that if we didn’t get an advance from the Endowment Trust the BSO might have to cease operations in January. Since then, we have engaged Michael Kaiser to help write a five-year strategic plan that puts the art and the Orchestra first. He is a … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
When I was graciously invited to contribute some words to address ICSOM members through Senza Sordino, the world was a different place indeed. Recording musicians and the AFM had just inked and ratified a successor agreement for film and television scoring, and we were looking forward to negotiating with the TV networks for our Live TV contract. Then came COVID-19. Without commenting on the … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2020
Detroit Moves Fast The last two weeks of January were eventful ones for the Detroit Symphony Orchestra. On January 22, the DSO announced that Italian conductor Jader Bignamini has been appointed Music Director, beginning with the 2020-2021 season. Bignamini was first introduced to the DSO in the spring of 2018, stepping in at the last minute for Leonard Slatkin in concert performances of … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
I get it. It feels as though nothing we do or say has any influence. What is the point in contacting our congressional representatives when the entire federal government is in gridlocked chaos? Do our voices count for anything? Congress appears to have no interest in passing legislation that might actually be of service to anyone other than the monstrously wealthy—and certainly not legislation … [Read more...]
