Issue: December 2015
The Kansas City Symphony Enjoys a Taste of New York As Major League Baseball finalized its World Series matchup, on October 23rd during a Kansas City Symphony concert, KCS Music Director Michael Stern proposed a friendly wager to New York Philharmonic Music Director Alan Gilbert: if the New York Mets won the World Series the KCS would send Kansas City’s best BBQ, and when the Kansas City Royals … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2015
On October 5, 2015, ICSOM lost one of its cofounders, Reinhardt Elster. The distinguished harpist, who performed everything from jazz to opera with many of the greatest musicians of the 20th century, died peacefully at his home in western Massachusetts after complications from a fall. He was 101. Mr. Elster was born in Hammond, Indiana, on July 23, 1914, the only child of German and Swedish … [Read more...]
Issue: May 2015
We can all agree: classical music is at a crossroads. Much of the rhetoric swirling about our period of change is negative. (According to blogger Andy Doe, we are now nearing the end of the eighth consecutive century of panicked cries of “Classical music is dying!”) Little of the discussion, however, has focused on an exciting new possibility—the use of the internet to increase our reach and … [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...]
Issue: October 2014
I have a confession. One year ago, I had no idea what Twitter was supposed to be used for. Back then, as Vice Chair of the MET Orchestra Committee, I had taken it upon myself to create a better online presence for the MET Orchestra in preparation for our upcoming negotiations. Unfortunately, I soon realized that I had no idea how to do so. Luckily, a tech-savvy percussionist came to my rescue. He … [Read more...]
Issue: August 2014
It has been reported that roughly 75% of traditional print and broadcast media journalists check people’s and groups’ websites or blogs before deciding whether to do a story on them. That point was driven home to me the other day when I received a text from fellow percussionist Eric Hopkins that read, “Just got a call from NPR in D.C. about doing an interview tomorrow as a follow up to my triangle … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2013
At the recent 55th Annual Grammy Awards there were a number of ICSOM orchestra recordings that won or were nominated for awards. Congratulations to these ICSOM orchestras, listed here along with the award categories in which they were recognized. Producer of the Year, Classical Blanton Alspaugh (winner), credits include: Davis: Río De Sangre (Joseph Rescigno, Vale Rideout, Ava Pine, … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2007
Newslets are compiled with the help of ICSOM delegates and ICSOM Members at Large from sources that include direct submissions, member orchestra websites, and topical news items. The editor encourages input and submissions. Atlanta Symphony delegate Michael Moore reports that the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra Board of Directors and Players’ Association jointly announced the ratification of a new … [Read more...]
