Issue: August 2020
We find ourselves in a very tight spot. I doubt there has ever been a time, since ICSOM was founded 58 years ago, that our orchestras have been in a more precarious situation. The coronavirus pandemic has stripped away our livelihoods and our way of life. It has taken the lives of tens of thousands of Americans and it has devastated our economy. We are hanging on by our fingernails as our American … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
I am sorry to say that just over two months into this coronavirus pandemic, the crisis for our orchestral industry is only beginning. Most of our summer employment is canceled. When we do return to work, it is unlikely that we will be able to perform as full orchestras, with some semblance of audience in attendance, before January of 2021. And it may well be longer. While some orchestras are … [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: 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...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
With the madness going on in our federal government, it is hard to know as a private citizen what to do or where to turn. Do we watch every twist and contortion of the infinitesimally slow train wreck happening in Washington DC? Or should we ignore it and go about our business? At this moment in time, amidst the upheaval and confusion, I think it is incumbent upon each of us to speak up, act up, … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
Solidarity, along with collective action, is the heart and soul of a strong union. Recognizing the interests and objectives we share with our brothers and sisters engenders a sense of unity. The conscious affirmation of this unity creates an environment where mutual service is encouraged. Yet, for participation to be most meaningful, we must actively practice solidarity—oftentimes having to choose … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
As it becomes increasingly clear that diversity in our orchestras must be a priority moving into the future, more opportunities to facilitate that goal are being created within our industry each year. The National Alliance for Audition Support (NAAS) is an unprecedented national initiative created by the Sphinx Organization (which is the program leader and fiscal administrator of NAAS), the New … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
Imagine for a moment the tens of thousands of sensations that bombard your conscious mind daily: that which you see, both moving and still, its color, detail and depth; what you hear, pitch, volume, perhaps words; touch, smell and taste. Your brain can process and sift all that information with minimal conscious attention, all while you’re walking down the street, sipping a coffee and reading … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
One of the responsibilities of my position that I feel most acutely is the need to be the public voice of ICSOM. I am afforded several opportunities to do so on a regular basis, including this column in each issue of Senza Sordino, and the opening address to our annual conference. While it feels gratifying to be an advocate for our orchestras and our art form, there are times when some … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
In the past several years, cultural diversity has become a major topic on the national arts agenda. Across the country, foundations, arts councils, advocacy organizations, nonprofit organizations, and universities alike have taken serious steps to explore, understand, and commit to fostering diversity, equity, and inclusion in the arts. Against the backdrop of the widely publicized violence … [Read more...]
