Issue:
Issue: December 2017
The musicians of the Puerto Rico Symphony Orchestra (OSPR) would like to express our deepest gratitude to our fellow ICSOM musicians for their support in the aftermath of Hurricane Maria. Your show of solidarity has brought us priceless encouragement and hope in a difficult time. A handful of our musicians have suffered significant and even catastrophic property damage from the storm and … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
It was around midnight. I was getting ready for bed on Sunday, October 8th, when I began to notice the unmistakable smell of smoke. I was alone in my house and quickly checked room to room, willing myself to stay calm as I made sure my cello was packed and ready to go at any moment. When I was sure the house was okay I went outside, walking up and down the block. Though the acrid odor was even … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
As stated in our bylaws, the duties of ICSOM President include the responsibility of supervising ICSOM’s conductor evaluation program. This is an area where I have had much experience, having served as the administrator of ROPA’s conductor evaluation bank for nearly ten years. ICSOM’s conductor evaluation program had its origins exactly 50 years ago. In 1967, the results were hand-tabulated. … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
The Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra is back in Music Hall! After a lengthy renovation, the hall reopened with a five-week celebration of opening galas featuring each of the five performing arts organizations in residence. The CSO managed to navigate some very stressful and difficult territory with a lot of success, thanks to a thoughtful approach and willingness to discuss openly the potential and … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
In 1939, Orson Welles created and broadcast “fake news” that led panicked listeners to believe that aliens were invading Earth from the planet Mars. One of this year’s MacArthur Fellowship (“genius grant”) winners, director Yuval Sharon, has taken the original radio script as the basis for a new one-hour performance piece heard around downtown Los Angeles in three November 2017 performances. … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
The Minnesota Orchestra’s tour to Cuba in 2015 took President Obama’s promise of a new relationship between our countries and shaped it into a reality for Cubans and Americans alike. Those five days in Havana were a revelation to the 165-member coalition of musicians, staff, audio engineers, board members, press, and patrons. Flying on the first nonstop charter flight from the Twin Cities to … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
To Form a More Paperless Union There is no question that the ways in which people obtain and interact with information have seen dramatic changes in recent years, all driven by advances in computer technology. While the (to some) utopian dream of the paperless office has not yet been realized, many people are becoming more comfortable with—even habituated to—the electronic exchange of … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2017
Grand Rapids Musician Lauded Grand Rapids Symphony violinist Diane McElfish Helle has recently been recognized with two important awards for her work creating and expanding the Grand Rapids Symphony’s Music for Health Initiative. Diane, who has been with the orchestra for 38 years, received the League of American Orchestra’s Ford Musician Award for Excellence in Community Service at the League … [Read more...]
