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Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion at San Francisco Symphony: One musician’s perspective

Issue: July 2022

Barbara Bogatin, San Francisco Symphony

As ICSOM Chairperson Meredith Snow stated in her April 2022 Senza Sordino report, “Building Inclusion into our New Normal,” American symphony orchestra musicians have long been champions of our nation’s highest aspirations for supporting peace, equal rights, and efforts against discrimination.  The historical racism in the orchestra world at the formation of our industry in the early 20th … [Read more...]

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San Francisco Symphony Launches New Streaming Service

Issue: March 2021

By James Button


After a year of cancelled seasons, pay cuts, and dark stages, some bright spots are beginning to appear on the orchestral horizon. The brand new partnership between Music Director Esa-Pekka Salonen and the San Francisco Symphony has yielded its first joint venture: SFSymphony+. Announced in mid-January of this year and launched on February 4, SFSymphony+ (SFSymphony Plus) is a new on-demand … [Read more...]

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Newslets

Issue: March 2019

New Contract and New Leadership The San Francisco Symphony (SFS) recently announced two positive developments. In November, the musicians ratified a four-year agreement with increases in wages and in the defined-benefit pension plan. The contract also includes a provision for shared equity funding, in which the administration will lend money to a musician to help fund a portion of the down … [Read more...]

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San Francisco Symphony Fire Relief Benefit Concert

Issue: December 2017

By Barbara Bogatin

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...]

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Newslets

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...]

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Orchestra Newslets

Issue: March 2015

ICSOM at the Grammys On February 8, the St. Louis Symphony’s recording of John Adams’ City Noir won the Grammy Award for Best ­Orchestral Performance. The recording, with David Robertson conducting, is on the Nonesuch label, and ­includes two recent Adams compositions: City Noir, and the Saxophone Concerto, ­featuring soloist ­Timothy ­McAllister. Both were recorded live at Powell Symphony Hall … [Read more...]

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Using Our Owned Media

Issue: August 2014

By George Brown, Utah Symphony Orchestra

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...]

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Adopted Resolutions of the 2013 ICSOM Conference

Issue: October 2013

Honoring Cathy Payne Submitted by the ICSOM Governing Board Whereas, Cathy Payne has been a dedicated and enthusiastic member of the San Francisco Symphony since 1996; and Whereas, She first represented her orchestra as ICSOM Delegate in 1998; and Whereas, Cathy proved to be an active and passionate representative for all ICSOM orchestras when she was elected as Member-at-Large in 2007; … [Read more...]

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Orchestra Newslets

Issue: June 2013

At the beginning of April, musicians and management of the Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra reached agreement on a new two-year contract. The musicians’ negotiating committee supplied the details that follow. After unilaterally declaring an impasse in September 2012, management imposed a 20% reduction in base salaries and reduced the season from 37 to 33 weeks. The musicians filed a bad faith … [Read more...]

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In Memoriam

Issue: March 2013

Gino Vivaldo Raffaelli 1925–2013 Gino Raffaelli, a founding member of ICSOM, passed away on January 10. He was a violinist with the Cleveland Orchestra from 1957 to 2001 and served as ICSOM’s first treasurer. He is survived by his daughter, Giovanna M. Shore, and two grandchildren. Gino was widely admired by his friends and colleagues as both a musician and an activist. In 1984, with … [Read more...]

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Senza Sordino, the official publication of the International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians, Inc., is published four to six times a year.

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