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...]
Issue: April 2022
By Paul Austin What’s in a number? This column addresses the sixties in three different ways: the 60th anniversary of ICSOM, the decade of our founding, and ICSOM’s dedicated musicians who both were born in the sixties and have reached that age (or will do so soon). 2022 marks the 60th anniversary of the founding of ICSOM. It is a pleasure and an honor to host our significant celebration … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2022
Roger Roe, Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra My dad was a minister, and almost all of my friends outside of the orchestra are teachers, preachers, therapists, or others in the healing and helping professions. That makes it intuitive and natural for me to look for ways to build friendships and personal connections in every part of life. When serving on various committees with the ISO, I try to … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2022
By Timothy Myers, St. Louis Symphony Orchestra In our symphonic world, we often hear that a large percentage of orchestral musicians have suffered or will suffer from a playing-related injury that impacts or threatens their careers. Many colleagues in our industry have suffered tendonitis, nerve damage, frozen shoulder, TMJ syndrome, hearing loss, or focal dystonia (among other conditions). … [Read more...]
Issue: June 2021
How does an orchestra committee know when it’s time to say enough is enough? For the New York City Ballet Orchestra Committee, it took a series of actions, some of them more properly called inactions, by the Ballet management. The current orchestra committee has had the reputation of being the “let’s all get along'' committee. For many years, that worked. We had a reasonably good working … [Read more...]
Issue: June 2021
Members of the MET Orchestra recently returned from Dallas, where they participated in an unprecedented collaboration with the Dallas Symphony Orchestra under the baton of DSO Music Director, Fabio Luisi. In addition to two historic performances of Mahler’s “Titan” Symphony No. 1, MET and DSO musicians gave several free masterclasses and chamber music concerts throughout the Dallas … [Read more...]
