Issue: July 2015
On April 24, 2015, the Grand Rapids Symphony celebrated its 85th anniversary with LiveArts, a large-scale multi-media event that included about 1,500 performers for a ticketed audience of over 7,000 in the city’s Van Andel Arena. LiveArts recognized and honored the performing arts in western Michigan. The Grand Rapids Symphony shared the stage with the Grand Rapids Symphony Chorus and Youth … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2015
The recent successor master agreement reached between the Cincinnati Musicians Association, Local 1, American Federation of Musicians, and the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra represents another step forward in an ever-increasing process of collaboration between the parties. There has been a considerable history of cordial relations among the musicians, union, Cincinnati Symphony Board of Trustees, … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2015
This September, the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra welcomes its sixth Fellow for the EQT Orchestra Training Program for African American Musicians (OTPAAM), percussionist Torrell Moss. EQT OTPAAM is a pre-professional, two-year program designed to mentor one young African-American musician in pursuit of an orchestral career. The selected musician spends two seasons immersed in the working … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2015
In 2007, the Utah Symphony had just signed a newly negotiated CBA, the symphony was embarking on an exciting search for a new Music Director, and things were on a positive trajectory. In the late fall things began to change. I recall when our CEO, Melia Tourangeau, announced to the orchestra that as a result of the financial crisis, the situation was so dire that they might not be able to make … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2015
In May 2015, the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra reached a new 3 ½-year contract agreement 21 months in advance of our current agreement’s expiration. Clearly, this negotiation was unlike any in our orchestra’s memory. Our process couldn’t have been more different from that of the 2012-14 lockout. At his suggestion, Kevin Smith, the orchestra’s new President and CEO, and General Manager Beth … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2015
In the spring of 2011, during its 50th Anniversary season, the Syracuse Symphony Orchestra (SSO) Board of Directors voted to cease operations and dissolve the orchestra through bankruptcy. The closure happened just a few weeks before cellist Yo-Yo Ma was to perform, which would have been a highlight of the anniversary year. No ticket refunds were forthcoming from the defunct SSO and many patrons … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2015
It’s hard to believe it’s been five and a half years since the Honolulu Symphony Society (HSS) canceled concerts and filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in December of 2009, with Chapter 7 liquidation a year later. The death of the 104-year old institution dealt a blow to our community; however, because most of the musicians stayed in Hawaii, and thanks to the efforts of a new group of community … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2015
Recent days have seen an intense escalation of the conflict in Ukraine, which began in 2013 and led to a revolt that ousted President Viktor Yanukovich in early 2014. When Russia subsequently annexed Crimea, a war ensued between pro-Russian factions and the government established in Ukraine following Yanukovich’s removal from office. The city of Donetsk has taken the brunt of the conflict, with … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2015
After a long and contentious negotiation, the American Federation of Musicians Negotiating Committee reached an accord for a successor Integrated Media Agreement (IMA). Unlike the prior agreement with individual employers, the new agreement is a multi-employer agreement applicable to all employer members of a newly-formed corporation named the Symphony, Opera, and Ballet Electronic Media … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2015
Several weeks ago, I worked with ICSOM Chairman Bruce Ridge and Metropolitan Opera Orchestra Principal Bassoonist William Short on the publication of an article on the MET Orchestra Musicians’ Web site. The article, entitled “2014: A Great Year for Orchestras (or haven’t you heard?)”, can be found online at … [Read more...]
