Issue: Chairperson's Reports
As of this writing, almost half of the 24 negotiating ICSOM orchestras have settled. It is never easy to hammer out a settlement and this time around is no exception. Lingering COVID, low interest rates, and high inflation make for a difficult bargaining environment. The resulting settlements are mixed, but so far there are more good outcomes than bad. Even though many orchestras have cash … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2022
The gatherings and work of ICSOM’s DEI Committee have reached a new level of vibrancy and activity in recent months. On June 1st, ICSOM launched a new monthly video series called Musician Profiles: Celebrating Racial Diversity, which I am proud to host. These one-on-one interviews focus on hearing and lifting the words of ICSOM Musicians of Color, their experiences, and how they view the need … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2022
The murder of George Floyd in the summer of 2020 made many of the musicians in the Milwaukee Symphony realize that racism was a problem that could no longer be ignored by our orchestra. As a result, a number of orchestra musicians decided to form an EDI committee, which would help us share ideas and resources with the ultimate goal of determining what kind of change we might be able to effect … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2022
Many ICSOM orchestras are aspiring to increase diversity throughout titled and section positions. Analyzing a hiring process and its outcomes through an ethical lens can help elucidate what role, if any, the audition procedure itself has in influencing the results of auditions. If orchestras find that full disclosure of their audition process leads to undesired outcomes, they may choose to amend … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2022
Dedicated to creating a more inclusive and equitable work environment for musicians of color, the Black Orchestral Network (BON) launched in May by founding members Jennifer Arnold (Oregon Symphony, former), Alexander Liang (Phoenix Symphony), David A. Norville (Sound Garden Wind Quintet), Shea Scruggs (Baltimore Symphony Orchestra, Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra, San Francisco Opera Orchestra, all … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2022
Over the years, ICSOM Delegates’ proactive questions about the status of the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund (AFM-EPF or the Fund) led to numerous informational updates and presentations at annual ICSOM Conferences. The Players Conferences successfully led the charge to increase the number of rank-and-file Union Trustees to three working musicians, two of whom were … [Read more...]
Issue: Editor's Reports
One of the hidden difficulties of editing any publication is how to use the same terminology, grammar, and punctuation throughout. If you have a background in writing or journalism, you may be familiar with the idea of a style guide, which describes the decisions an editor should make to remain consistent in publication. For Senza Sordino, we start with the Chicago Manual of Style, which is one … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2022
Over the course of the past two years, there have been countless examples of ICSOM orchestras facing tremendous adversity. While the effects of the pandemic still remain for a large number of our members, the recovery has begun in earnest for quite a few orchestras. In this article, five delegates from across the country share some positive news about their organizations. Colorado … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2022
By José M. Villegas, Secretary-Treasurer, AFM-Local 555 On January 27th, 2022, the Governor of Puerto Rico announced an agreement with the Financial Oversight and Management Board for Puerto Rico (FOMB) to commit $20 million dollars in annual incremental funding, over the next ten years, for the stabilization of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra Musicians’ Pension Fund. This contribution … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2022
By Meredith Snow The 60th anniversary of ICSOM’s founding comes at an interesting inflection point in our history—as in “may you live in interesting times…” As the dust settles from the unforeseen and nearly catastrophic pandemic shutdown, we are returning to full concert schedules, attendance restrictions are lifting, and our audiences are coming back. We are nearly back to … [Read more...]
