Issue: December 2017
The Minnesota Orchestra’s tour to Cuba in 2015 took President Obama’s promise of a new relationship between our countries and shaped it into a reality for Cubans and Americans alike. Those five days in Havana were a revelation to the 165-member coalition of musicians, staff, audio engineers, board members, press, and patrons. Flying on the first nonstop charter flight from the Twin Cities to … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
To Form a More Paperless Union There is no question that the ways in which people obtain and interact with information have seen dramatic changes in recent years, all driven by advances in computer technology. While the (to some) utopian dream of the paperless office has not yet been realized, many people are becoming more comfortable with—even habituated to—the electronic exchange of … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
Grand Rapids Musician Lauded Grand Rapids Symphony violinist Diane McElfish Helle has recently been recognized with two important awards for her work creating and expanding the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Music for Health Initiative. Diane, who has been with the orchestra for 38 years, received the League of American Orchestra’s Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service at the League … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2017
This year’s conference, the 55th Annual ICSOM Conference, was held August 23-26 at the Adam’s Mark hotel in Buffalo, New York, and was hosted by the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra and Local 92. The week began with a 72% partial eclipse on Monday, followed by a rainstorm on Tuesday that caused all sorts of travel problems, but Wednesday through the rest of the week the weather was perfect. … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2017
After the deluge dropped on the city of Houston by hurricane Harvey, the lives of millions of our fellow citizens were severely affected. Some lost loved ones, and many lost everything they owned. In times of crisis, music can be a balm—but the flooding near our hall meant that the Houston Symphony Orchestra (HSO) had to cancel a number of our season-opening concerts. So we decided to bring the … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
America is facing a pension crisis of epidemic proportions. At the very moment when our population is rapidly aging, the fabric of our pension system is collapsing. By the year 2030, one in five Americans will be over 65. Plan assets for private pensions are grossly inadequate—underfunded by billions of dollars according to the Pension Benefit Guarantee Corporation (PBGC). Many employers are … [Read more...]
Issue: Counsel's Columns
By now, most members of ICSOM orchestras who are participants in the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund (AFM-EPF) are aware of the possibility that their expected pension benefit might be reduced. In this article, I discuss the legal framework under which such a reduction could take place: the Multiemployer Pension Reform Act (MPRA), enacted in 2014. MPRA is an … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2017
ICSOM is very active on Twitter. Since 2009, we have generated nearly 10,000 tweets about classical music, orchestras, and the arts. Today ICSOM has over 9000 Twitter followers. The account was created and maintained by former ICSOM Chair Bruce Ridge. Upon his departure from the Governing Board in August 2016, ICSOM’s social media duties were divided among several GB members. It has been an … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2017
It is not unheard of for orchestral musicians to get jobs in their twenties, work really hard for a number of years, and then start to stagnate. Without finding new personal and musical challenges, it can sometimes be difficult to keep growing. You finally win the big job, and . . . then what? Upon returning to work after our 2012 lockout, the musicians of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2017
The New York Philharmonic took an exciting new step last season when we presented three complete concerts on Facebook Live: our 2016-17 Season Opening Gala Concert, a subscription concert of Beethoven’s Fifth Piano Concerto and Brahms’ Third Symphony, and the season finale “Concert for Unity”, featuring guest musicians from around the world. In the Philharmonic’s 175th year, we were proud to be … [Read more...]
