Issue: June 2010
Nashville’s April was unseasonably warm, with little rain. That changed suddenly when Nashville was deluged on May 1 and 2, causing some of the worst flooding here in recorded history. Our principal oboe audition was scheduled for three days starting on Friday, April 30, just one day before the flooding began. While the other three auditions we’ve held since January proceeded without incident, … [Read more...]
Issue: April 2010
“It is with both trepidation and pride that we introduce the first issue of SENZA SORDINO. It has been put together against the pressure of both time and limited funds, and no doubt bears the scars of its difficult (one is tempted to say ‘Caesarean’) birth.” And so began the January 1963, Volume 1, Number 1 issue of Senza Sordino. The editor of this publication, and the additional two issues from … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2009
This has been a very difficult year for our orchestras. We are barely into the new season, and I have produced more than 15 settlement bulletins, 7 of which are for revised or amended agreements (and at least one, Honolulu, is already out of date). Out of last season’s 29 bulletins, 13 were for revised or amended agreements (many came in as we approached last summer’s ICSOM Conference). Sadly, … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2009
Two years ago we began sending Senza Sordino to every AFM local in the U.S. and Canada. We did this hoping that locals, regardless of whether they are home to any ICSOM, ROPA, or OCSM orchestras, would find our newsletter interesting and appreciate hearing about some of our issues, including the need for strong committees, support from our locals, and AFM support to keep us informed and help us … [Read more...]
Issue: Secretary's Reports
The 2009 ICSOM Conference in Norfolk, Virginia, August 19–22, was very successful, thanks in part to a terrific job by the conference coordinator, Tom Reel, as well as to contributions from his colleagues in the Virginia Symphony, Local 125, and its president, John Lindberg. They pulled out all the stops with a harbor cruise and dinner for delegates and guests aboard The Spirit of Norfolk. Local … [Read more...]
Issue: July 2009
It was just after noon on May 9, 2009, in Washington, D.C., and while it may have been a beautiful (or a stormy) day, the members of the AFM negotiating committee had no way of knowing. After a year and a half of tough negotiations, culminating in three long days (and nights) with the Managers’ Media Committee in a cramped Washington hotel meeting room, we were on the verge of concluding a … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2008
In December I attended the Recording Musicians Association (RMA) conference that was held in Nashville. (How convenient for me!) This conference is very intimate, with guests sometimes outnumbering the delegates! During the RMA conference, Maureen Kilkelly, Executive Director of the American Federation of Musicians and Employers Pension Fund (AFM-EPF, or the Fund), gave a very informative … [Read more...]
Issue: December 2007
Welcome Locals! I recently spent an interesting day and a half entering AFM local addresses. Thankfully, there are already 41 locals representing ICSOM orchestras, which made my job a bit shorter. Still, 207 addresses later, I have some new impressions about our representation across two countries. Your first question, I suspect, would be: “Laura, why were you entering all those … [Read more...]
Issue: May 2007
As my orchestra prepares for negotiations here in Nashville— the first in our new hall—I have begun to reflect upon our own bargaining history and how it has been impacted by ICSOM's relationship with the AFM. As ICSOM celebrates its 45th year, we once again will send a delegation of representatives to the AFM Convention, this year being held June 18–20 in Las Vegas. With the attendance of … [Read more...]
Issue: October 2006
So, ICSOM, what have you done for me lately? As painful as it is for me to say, I began to despair about the relevancy of ICSOM these past few years based on the actions of some of our own orchestras. I have despaired about the changing attitudes of our society, when the question “What can I do for you to make your life better?” is rarely asked anymore. Instead, it’s always about “ME” and the … [Read more...]
