Issue:
Issue: March 2017
The Jacksonville Symphony musicians ratified a new five-year contract on January 25, 2017, eight months in advance of the expiration of the current CBA. This contract marks an extraordinary new direction for the Jacksonville Symphony, all the more so in light of our negotiating history of the last 14 years. It therefore seems fitting to give a brief history of this volatile period to place the … [Read more...]
Issue: Chairperson's Reports
The National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) is a critical part of funding for the non-profit arts sector. Despite the miniscule amount of Federal money allocated to the NEA (0.004% of the 2016 fiscal budget), NEA grants spur giving from private sources, foundations, corporations, and individual contributors. On average, each NEA dollar generates another nine dollars from state, local, and private … [Read more...]
Issue: Counsel's Columns
One of the most vexing challenges an orchestra committee faces is what to do when one musician levies an accusation of improper behavior against another. Often the accuser will claim he or she has been “harassed,” or that the alleged perpetrator is creating a “hostile work environment.” At last summer’s ICSOM conference, I gave a presentation regarding this issue, using a hypothetical scenario … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2017
Two weeks ago, I walked into a small storefront office on Milwaukee Avenue and discovered something unexpected: an entire medical office dedicated to meeting the needs of people exactly like me, professional musicians who have very specific hearing issues and working situations. I was there to be tested and fitted for custom earplugs, as part of an arrangement with Lyric Opera and Sensaphonics, an … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2017
As I write this it has been just over four months since President Ray Hair appointed me to the new combined position of Director and Special Counsel of the Symphonic Services Division of the AFM. Having spent the previous seven years serving as Counsel to SSD, I hit the ground running and really haven’t stopped since. One highlight of these months was the time I spent in February updating the … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2017
Within moments of watching an extended trailer for Composed at last summer’s ICSOM Conference in Washington, DC, I knew we had to bring the film to Virginia and provide broad exposure beyond just the orchestra. The subject matter would have universal appeal and the quality of the film was first rate. On Sunday, March 5th, John Beder’s film was the main attraction at the Naro Expanded Cinema in … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2017
The National Symphony Orchestra performed live on National Public Radio’s All Things Considered broadcast on February 27, 2017. At noon that day the NSO piled into Studio 1 at the NPR headquarters in Washington, DC, and at 12:30 began rehearsing snippets of twelve or so popular pieces from the orchestral repertoire. Save for a few arrangements of the NPR theme music procured especially for the … [Read more...]
Issue: March 2017
ICSOM at the Grammys At the 59th annual Grammy awards on February 12, the Nashville Symphony’s album Daugherty: Tales Of Hemingway; American Gothic; Once Upon A Castle won awards in three categories: Best Classical Compendium, Best Classical Contemporary Composition, and Best Classical Instrumental Solo. The last two awards were specifically for Tales of Hemingway, featuring cellist Zuill Bailey. … [Read more...]
