Since our last ICSOM Conference, we have published four issues of Senza Sordino. Although there may be fewer issues than in some years, the length of each issue has generally been longer, and I hope you have found the content both interesting and valuable.
We continue to hear that there is much interest in the Orchestra Newslets column. This last year, though, we have actually had a harder time getting contributions for it. Please remember that column during the next year, and send us items of interest that arise in your orchestra. Our members at large join me in trying to help put your news into a readable form, so don’t worry if your submission is not polished. And if you don't have time to write it, just let me or your MAL know what of interest is happening in your orchestra, and we will try to write something.
The Governing Board has always believed that it is important for musicians to receive a printed copy of Senza Sordino—at the workplace if at all possible. This has been the case even though an online version of Senza Sordino has been available on the ICSOM website for quite a few years. However, we have made an effort to get Senza Sordino to musicians even when an orchestra is between seasons. When delegates notify us that they are out of session, we have mailed issues directly to musicians using the most recent ICSOM Directory addresses.
New postal regulations require us to pay a heavy price for mail that is sent to a wrong address. Therefore, if you want issues sent to individuals when you are not in season, it will be incumbent upon you to notify us of address changes for your musicians. During the next year, we expect to work out new procedures that will allow you to make address changes online throughout the year.
We hope that you and your musicians find Senza Sordino to be valuable both internally, as a resource for current information about what is happening elsewhere, as well as a tool for educating and befriending others who may be of help to your orchestra in the future. In that regard, please let me know if you are receiving too many or too few copies.
As always, please continue to remind musicians in your orchestra that their articles and other submissions, and even their ideas for articles, are always welcome. If you have an interesting photo, even without a story to accompany it, please send it in. Also, please do discuss with me any delivery problems, issues, or preferences.
Richard Levine