The Cincinnati Pops Orchestra is the only American orchestra
invited to perform during opening weekend of the 2008 Summer Olympics
in Beijing.
The Pops has received an invitation from the Beijing Organizing
Committee for the Games of the XXIX Olympiad to play for two prestigious
concerts during the opening weekend of the Olympics, Aug. 9 and
10. The orchestra, which is the same personnel as the Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra, will depart on Aug. 5 for Beijing.
“This is a great honor for Cincinnati and for the United
States of America to represent the culture of this country,”
says Pops conductor Erich Kunzel, 73. “It’s the highlight
of my life.”
“We are an American orchestra, and our country stands for
freedom and peace,” Kunzel says. “We’ll make a
very powerful statement.”
Officials at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra expressed dismay
today over news that Ohio’s capital could see the demise
of its hometown orchestra.
On the heels of a report last week that the Columbus Symphony
says it will shut down on June 1, the general manager for the
Cincinnati Symphony said she “can’t imagine” the
capital without an orchestra.
Assistant Principal Wendy Morton and Associate
Principal Richard Bell will be leaving the CSO.
It wouldn't be possible for me to thank each and every musician
in the symphony, and since you serve such a prominent role in
the orchestra I thought I would send this expression of thanks
to you. After some years of not attending the symphony, I determined
last year that I would subscribe. I heard how the orchestra was
rising to new levels of musicianship under an exciting new director
and I wanted to experience this renewal for myself.
This past season has reintroduced me to one of the great loves
of my youth which is classical symphonic music. Perhaps I have
reached a point in life where I can truly be patient and let the
music take me along at its pace. Whatever has changed I only know
that the Saint-Saens Organ Symphony moved me beyond words, and
the Mahler Resurrection Symphony was transcendent. In fact every
concert has moved me in some profound way. I sense the total commitment
of all the players, and how the maestro creates a community of
sound that brings sparkle and nuance to the performance. Just
wonderful.
Please know that so many of us who are simple working folks with
such limited financial resources are doing what we can. If I could
I would subscribe right now for next season and make an additional
gift. I do pray that our orchestra is preserved and continues
to lead the rest of us into the beauty that is the music. I have
joined the symphonystrong site and will check there for news and
opportunities to help.
"If they continue to dig in their heels, they will have
no one but themselves to blame when the symphony is no more."
Is it curtains for Columbus? The Columbus Symphony Orchestra,
a high-quality regional ensemble in Ohio’s capital, has canceled
its outdoor summer concerts and says it will probably call a halt
to making music indefinitely.
"According to a Columbus Symphony Orchestra
(CSO) press statement dated 5/8/08, the board of directors has
cancelled both of the organization's summer concert series, which
have been a part of Columbus summers for more than 25 years. Furthermore,
the statement asserts that "due to uncertainties surrounding
the 2008-2009 season" the organization is deliberately not
selling subscription or single tickets until after they reach
an agreement with musicians on a new collective bargaining agreement.
Does anyone else smell a self-fulfilling prophecy blowing in the
wind…"
But Musician's Union President Doug Fisher says
they will fight for their summer salary if necessary.
"We have a legally binding contract,"
he said. "If they choose not to have the summer season, that
doesn't relieve them of their obligation to pay our salaries.
And if they don't, then there are various other legal remedies
that we can apply if we need to."
The CSO this week sent out an e-mail to its list
of email list subscribers
See the e-mail here.
Is this marketing? How about some text? A photo? Some information
about the artists, or simply a link to their web sites? How about
telling us who is conducting the Yo-Yo Ma concert? How about telling
the public what pieces Yo-Yo Ma is playing? How about some content
which might hook someone who is marginally interested?
Cutbacks
at Columbus Orchestra hurt OSU
April 29, 2008
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Gift
lets symphony finish season, but after that ...
April 28, 2008
Visit the CSO
press releases page for all the news from last January.
April 28, 2008
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Gift
will keep symphony afloat
April 28, 2008
Columbus
Board Responds To Ratification Vote [Unanimous rejection]
Much of Trafford's statement and the board's press release
are founded on the principle that their proposed financial
plan was crafted with broad-based input, as indicated when
Trafford writes "[the proposed financial plan] was created
with input of various sectors of the community and incorporating
financial models used by symphonies in markets similar to
Columbus." However, the plan's co-author, CSO Executive
Director Tony Beadle, acknowledged in an interview that a
number of stakeholders were excluded during the process and
he would have preferred a more thorough approach.
"There was never a conscious decision to exclude
anyone but a lot of stakeholders were excluded from this planning
process, not just the musicians," said Beadle.
April 26, 2008
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Contract
rejection may stop the music
Musicians' action has board pondering future
April 26, 2008
WOSU RADIO
Musicians
Reject CSO's "Final Offer"
April 25, 2008
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Orchestra
musicians reject contract offer
April 25, 2008
PRESS RELEASE
CENTRAL OHIO FEDERATION OF
MUSICIANS LOCAL 103 A.F. OF M.
1585 BETHEL RD., SUITE 100-COLUMBUS,
OHIO 43220-2010 – PHONE: (614) 457-6371 – FAX: 457-6372
Douglas J. Fisher
President
Vaughn F. Wiester
Secretary-Treasurer
Michael Buccicone
Vice-President
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
April 25, 2008
Columbus Symphony Musicians Unanimously Vote to Reject Board’s
“Final Offer”
Last night, the members of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
unanimously voted by secret ballot to reject the CSO Board’s
“final offer” for a new contract which would take
effect next season. The offer called for a 40% annual salary
cut from all 53 Full-Time Musicians with no restoration in additional
years. The current minimum annual salary is $55,200. Under the
Board’s proposal it would be slashed to $33,000. The Board’s
offer would also require Musicians to pay 30% of their monthly
health insurance premiums, up to $480 per month for Musicians
with family coverage. In addition, the wages per rehearsal and
concert for part time Musicians would be reduced from $150 to
$100. The value of these cuts from the Musician’s pockets
would be approximately $1.4 million for next season.
Previously the Board rejected the Musician’s proposal
to accept a 6.5% annual salary cut, to reduce monthly health
insurance payments in return, but to share in future premium
increases, and to leave vacant any non-principal chair during
long term leaves of absence throughout the contract. Depending
on the final number of vacancies, this would result in savings
next season of approximately $500,000. Three years ago, the
Musicians agreed to an 11% annual salary cut which resulted
in total savings over the past two and a half years of $1.3
million.
Early in the negotiation process, the Musicians proposed that
a third party consultant who specializes in orchestra management
be selected by mutual agreement and brought in to evaluate the
situation and to make recommendations to both the Board and
the Musicians. The Board immediately rejected that proposal
insisting that no assistance was needed to resolve matters.
They later offered to accept the assistance of a consultant,
but only in the future after a new contract is reached.
The Board has told the Musicians that there may not be enough
money to continue operations beyond the end of this month without
agreement on a new contract for next season. Because the Board’s
proposal was presented as a “final offer”, they will
not consider any further proposals from the Musicians.
Douglas Fisher, President of the Central Ohio Federation of
Musicians, Local 103 AFM, the union which represents the CSO
Musicians stated, “We are disappointed that the Board has
rejected immediate assistance from an orchestra management consultant
to advise both them and the Musicians. The longer this crisis
continues the more Musicians we will lose. So far we have lost
four high-profile Musicians to other full time jobs next season
and that number will likely increase. It has taken decades for
this small group of Musicians to develop into the high quality
ensemble that it is today. Because there are only 53 full time
Musicians, losing even a small number of them has a profound
effect on the orchestra’s quality.”
Jim Akins, Chair of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Committee
and Principal Tuba said, “Key economic data even in today’s
economy proves that central Ohio has the means to support this
orchestra at an even higher level and that our region is as
strong economically as the four major cities which surround
it. Yet the orchestra’s annual budget is two to three times
smaller than the orchestras in those cities. Central Ohio deserves
an orchestra of high quality and I hope that those who care
will step up and refuse to let it die”.
For further information please contact Douglas Fisher at 614-783-3684
or Jim Akins at 614-361-1481. Also, please visit www.symphonymusicians.com,
the official website of the CSO Musicians for detailed financial
information on the CSO and how it compares to surrounding
cities.
####
April 23, 2008
Some
Belated Thoughts On Columbus
"...the Columbus Dispatch published an article
by Michael Grossberg which stands out as the most reprehensible
contribution to date among a string of disappointing articles
that have been masquerading as acceptable coverage of the CSO's
current situation…"
April 21, 2008
Boston
Marathon: Since 1974, Hilliard man has been a race regular
By Aaron Portzline
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Russell Gill is still a little murky on the details.
It was either 1981 or '82 when he made his way to the Boston
Marathon start line with a hairline fracture in his foot.
"I'm not sure which foot it was, either,"
Gill said.
But this much is certain -- that day in Boston,
Gill's passion for distance running became his recreational
raison d'etre.
Gill, a Hilliard resident who plays the bass
in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, will run in his 35th
consecutive Boston Marathon today.
April 12, 2008
Symphony
Plays Through Its Troubles
“Every musician and conductor is entitled
to his own opinion about the administration. But we have a lot
of business in our backyard that needs to be done before we
can build passion for the orchestra.”
Tony Beadle, CSO executive director
April 10, 2008
3
Letters to the Columbus Dispatch
April 7, 2008
Columbus Symphony
Criticisms
of orchestra board prompt issue-by-issue review
By Michael Grossberg
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
April 7, 2008
Columbus:
Chicken Soup for the Symphony (and it's not a gimmick!)
Something is simmering in Columbus, but it's not the usual
recipe!
April 7, 2008
16-city survey
Grim
reality: Perception is that city [Columbus, Ohio] lacks in arts
April 6, 2008
Symphony
deserves more than polite hand
By JOE BLUNDO
April 4, 2008
CSO Youth Orchestras Manager Justine Daniel has resigned.
April 4, 2008
ThisWeek Marysville
Marysville
restaurant pledges to help 'Save the Symphony'
The management of Doc Henderson's restaurant in Marysville
has announced the business will partner with the Columbus Symphony
Orchestra for a "Save the Symphony" fundraiser.
The restaurant, located at 318 E. Fifth St. in Marysville,
will host a special event from 6:30 to 9 p.m., Monday, April
7, to help raise funds for the financially troubled symphony.
http://www.dochendersonsrestaurant.com/
April 3, 2008
THE OTHER PAPER
Promoting passion
A
new website is designed to boost interest in the endangered
Columbus Symphony
April 1, 2008
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/04/flanagan-shreve.html
We have seen it all before. We are seeing it again now.
Bankruptcy used as a fund raising tool. Ridiculous.
An orchestra with half the musicians will be the panacea for
a lack of endowment. Absurd.
Put that on a glossy brochure: The Columbus Symphony: To
Cure You We Must Kill You.
March 31, 2008
Columbus Dispatch, letter to the editor
New
blood on board could save orchestra
March 31, 2008
Cincinnati Symphony
Playing at music's heights
Tour
through Europe puts CSO, city on bigger stage
"That's the way you attract talented musicians and music
directors," he says. "We are not a Columbus, Indianapolis
or Louisville orchestra. If you want to be a world-class orchestra,
that's part of the package."
CSO European tour itinerary
• Tuesday: Orchestra departs for Frankfurt, Germany (Wednesday
arrival)
• Friday: Alte Oper, Frankfurt
• Saturday: Herkulessaal, Munich
• Sunday: Konzerthaus, Vienna, Austria
• April 8: Liederhalle, Stuttgart, Germany
• April 9: Concertgebouw, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
• April 10: Salle Pleyel, Paris, France
• April 12: Laeiszhalle, Hamburg, Germany
• April 13: Konzerthaus, Dortmund, Germany
• April 14: Tonhalle, Düsseldorf, Germany
• April 16: Palau de la Musica, Valencia, Spain
• April 17: Palau de la Musica Catalana, Barcelona, Spain
• April 18: Auditorio Nacional de Musica, Madrid, Spain
March 26, 2008
Columbus Dispatch, letter to the editor
CSO
This letter, in response to the numerous articles re: the problems
of the
Columbus Symphony, is one strictly from a layman's point of
view, but a
layman whose devotion to the CSO has never flagged over the
Whallon-to-Hirokami period. I emphasize "layman,"
since I am not a
musician, and I have no specific knowledge of the many machinations
(most
certainly some bumblings) that go on in the economic/
personal/political/public bureaucracy of this splendid organization.
When the Columbus Dispatch immediately jumped on the
"let's-downscale-the-size-of-the-orchestra" bandwagon,
I was flabbergasted.
Other than that the statement threw into high relief the Dispatch's
questionable devotion to a truly multi-cultural city, it seems
to me that
one of the responsibilities of a single and powerful "hometown"
newspaper is
to support almost any reputable organization that brings credit,
not to
mention money and favorable reputation, to the city. Why could
not the
newspaper's position be "let's try to get this organization
on a long-term
even keel so that we don't have to face these situations every
few years"?
Whenever the issue is arenas or baseball fields or tax abatements
for sports
and airlines and businesses being urged to settle in the heart
of the city,
the newspaper, almost without fail, has basically urged on the
powers-that-be (the newspaper being one such power) to produce
the funds,
the leadership, and the means to open up more opportunities
for a city that
aspires to be greater than it is (although I personally believe
that this
will be a long time coming).
As far as the symphony itself is concerned, it has worked for
over thirty or
more years to get to where it is. It is obviously a very difficult
and
long-term undertaking to establish a world class orchestra.
And while I
believe we're not there yet, we are clearly on the verge of
greatness. I
think many in the city would agree that this is, along with
the Columbus
Museum of Art, one of the two crown jewels of the city's cultural
life. And
this is not to minimize the first-rate quality of Ballet Met,
CATCO, and
other arts organizations. But how we can rationalize public
support and
financial "breaks" for sports and other business ventures,
who, even when
they are performing at their best, still persist at the relatively
mediocre
level, and then withhold public financial and moral support
from an
organization which produces, year after year, music of the very
highest
quality in conjunction with great artists who are willing to
come and
perform with the orchestra. To quote from The King and I, "Is
a
puzzlement!"
I think it's fair to say that if this orchestra, as it is now
constituted
and as it must remain in terms of permanent personnel (i.e.
not a pick-up
band), goes under, the rippling effect for the arts in the city,
and the
city's reputation as a forward-looking entity, also will be
widely affected.
Up to a point, comparisons that you have made to other cities
and their
orchestras is a fair one, but why would we not want to aim to
be better, far
better, than some of these smaller organizations with smaller
budgets, a
smaller number of full time players, and a smaller number of
great guest
artists in our midst?
I do hope that the city powers, the corporate world, individual
donors at
every level, and the orchestra itself can find a long-term solution
to this
on-going crisis. It should be no surprise to you by now that
I think the
Columbus Dispatch could, if it really wanted to, play a vital
role in
finding a more reasonable solution than the predictable and
flabby one it
has proposed in its numerous pronouncements to the public.
Donald W. Good, Columbus
March 24, 2008
As
Negotiations Continue, Columbus Eyes Cash Flow
March 24, 2008
COLUMBUS DISPATCH
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Orchestra's
board needs an overhaul
I have been a season subscriber to the Columbus Symphony Orchestra
since 1969. In those years, the CSO has had its ups and downs.
While the names of the board of trustees are published in each
program, I have never known who they were. How do these people
get on the board? Is it the money they have? Do they know anything
about music, let alone a symphony? It is time for the public
to know who they are and how they came to the decision to ruin
this fine institution.
They waited much too long to let the public know what condition
the CSO was in financially. Now they are demanding the musicians
accept their plan of not allowing corporations to contribute
monies unless the musicians allow for a diminished orchestra.
It is incomprehensible to me that none of the musicians was
involved in the discussion prior to the public announcement
of the orchestra's potential demise. It is high time that this
board steps down and another one is developed.
JAN RYAN
Reynoldsburg
March 24, 2008
Like
NetJets, CSO is worth keeping in city
By ANDREW OLDENQUIST
March 24, 2008
Reaching a low note
Other
symphonies have battled for survival -- with mixed results
By Jeffrey Sheban
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
March 22, 2008
COLUMBUS DISPATCH EDITORIAL
Do or die
Symphony
must find way to live within smaller budget or see funding disappear
The Columbus Symphony Orchestra could die as soon as next month
if the board and the musicians don't take dramatic, permanent
measures to shore up the operation.
Dramatic measures do not include going to the same corporate
and private donors for a last-minute bail-out yet again this
year.
Those donors, while wishing to support and prolong Columbus'
largest arts organization, have been enabling unsustainable
business practices for years. Many of them know it. They're
fed up with trying to keep a sinking ship afloat, and some have
made it clear that future donations depend on the symphony getting
its finances in order.
The management of the symphony says the budget reduction, to
$9.5 million or less from the current $12 million, is nonnegotiable.
But how the orchestra gets there should be open for debate.
The symphony board has proposed that the orchestra cut the
number of full-time musicians from 53 to 31, filling in with
part-time musicians where the performance calls for them. Also,
the number of performance weeks would be cut back from 46 to
34. Musicians are paid by the week.
The musicians argue that reducing their number so dramatically
will destroy the quality that the symphony has developed over
the years, and that once the quality drops, so will public interest.
The musicians also say that the symphony's marketing and fundraising
efforts have been lacking.
But at this point, it doesn't make much difference how the
symphony reached its perilous state. If the organization
is to survive, it must take the steps necessary to rebuild confidence
that it can operate in a sustainable way.
"But
at this point, it doesn't make much difference how the symphony
reached its perilous state."
Columbus Dispatch,
March 22, 2008
It does not matter
that the Symphony's plan since 2003 has been exclusively to
downsize?
It does not matter how the
Symphony arrived at its inability to manage and market itself?
It does not matter how the Symphony
alienated its donors?
A simple chopping of the budget
will solve all the problems?
The public will suddenly return
to greet the newly crippled Columbus Symphony with great enthusiasm
just because its budget is smaller?
March 21, 2008
CSO
Development Director resigns
March 20, 2008
Columbus Dispatch
Letter to the editor
Symphony board manipulating opinion
The following details are from Friday's Dispatch article, "Columbus
Symphony: Could it really die?" They are examples of how
public opinion is being manipulated to place the onus on the
musicians.
• The symphony board's proposal "would cut from 53
to 31 the number of full-time musicians
... and reduce the season from 46 weeks to 34. Such conditions
represent a tall order, however, because the board and the musicians
have yet to sit down to discuss the plan since (board President
Robert "Buzz") Trafford tried to present it Jan. 17."
Tried to present? The proposal was forced on us Jan. 17 by
releasing it to the press before telling us.
• "(Principal tuba player Jim) Akins and Doug Fisher,
president of the musicians union, have rebuffed more recent
board efforts to meet, said Tony Beadle, the symphony's executive
director."
Wrong. Fisher and Akins have not rebuffed efforts to meet.
• "Historically, the union has waited until just
before a contract expires to complete negotiations for the next
pact, even after months of discussions."
Wrong. It takes two to tango. Neither side wants to give in
until the last minute. Anyone who has ever negotiated knows
that.
• " 'If the musicians adopt a business-as-usual strategy
for negotiating, we won't see them for a while,' Beadle said.
'But if they want to get ahead of the current impasse, they'll
respond.' "
Impasse? I'd say it's more of an insult to the city, which
puts faith in the integrity of arts leaders.
For the past two years, the musicians have watched as the symphony
administration has failed to effectively market and develop
the orchestra. When musicians made numerous suggestions to help
with these issues, they usually were ignored.
DAVID H. THOMAS
Principal clarinet
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
March 19, 2008
Columbus Travels Around The Blogosphere
Aroundblogosphere All of the recent Chicken Little oriented
news reported in the Columbus Dispatch has prompted a considerable
response throughout the cultural blogosphere. Some of it has
been somewhat plaintive while other posts have been red-hot
over how the situation is unfolding.
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/03/columbus-travel.html
March 18, 2008
Dynamic Consequences Taking Shape In Columbus
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/03/dynamic-consequ.html
March 18, 2008
Columbus symphony
Musicians,
board agree to start discussing future
By Michael Grossberg
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Musicians and board members of the financially strapped Columbus
Symphony will meet this afternoon to begin discussions.
"I have no inkling as to what may transpire, but I'm very
hopeful," Executive Director Tony Beadle said yesterday.
Only the CSO could create a situation
in which a first negotiation meeting would warrant a newspaper
article.
March 17, 2008
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/03/in-columbus-the.html
Quote from this article:
"It would be good for all sides involved in Columbus'
situation to learn from Louisville's labor crisis in 2006. In
particular, one of the conditions existing in Louisville at
that time was a board of directors and an executive director
that collectively possessed a debilitating lack of understanding
of the bargaining process as it relates to professional orchestras.
Based on the information reported in the 3/14/2008 edition of
the Columbus Dispatch, the CSO board and executive leadership
are displaying some of the very same characteristics. In order
to build confidence throughout their community, they'll need
to take swift action to demonstrate they won't be making the
same mistakes as their Louisville counterparts from 2006."
March 16, 2008
ANALYSIS
Cacophony
could drown out symphony
By Michael Grossberg
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Many people struggle to believe that central Ohio might let
the Columbus Symphony die.
Believe it.
March 15, 2008
On to Plan B in Columbus
http://theafmobserver.typepad.com/abu_bratsche
An outstanding analysis of yesterday's Dispatch article by
Robert Levine, Chairman Emeritus of ICSOM and Principal Viola
in Milwaukee.
March 15, 2008
COLUMBUS DISPATCH: NOW YOU'RE TALKING
Balance
a top goal in symphony stories
Saturday, March 15, 2008 3:11 AM
By MARY LYNN PLAGEMAN
March 15, 2008
The Columbus Dispatch - Balance A
Top Goal In Symphony Stories?
Today a commentary appeared in the Columbus
Dispatch with the truly laughable title, "Balance a top
goal in Symphony stories" by Editor Mary Lynn Plageman.
Since the Columbus Dispatch, in collusion with the management
and board of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, broke the first
story on the board and management's plan to fire 22 of us and
exact a 30% cut in salary and benefits from the rest, all of
their reporting has been completely one-sided.
Official spokespersons for the musicians
have spent hours speaking with Dispatch reporters on the record,
but despite that fact, few quotes have been printed while numerous
and lengthy quotes by the board and management have appeared.
Since they broke the story last January, the musicians have
issued two press releases. Both were completely ignored by the
Dispatch.
In response to their grand editorial
trumpeting the paper's support of the board and management's
plan, we requested an op-ed piece of equal length and submitted
two rebuttals from the Chairman and General Counsel of the International
Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians. The Dispatch rejected
our request and refused to print either rebuttal.
Finally in a last-ditch effort to convey
our side of the story, we requested and were granted a meeting
with the Dispatch Editorial Board. In that meeting the editors
politely listened and asked intelligent questions which led
us to believe that they finally understood the true problems
facing the CSO from our perspective. But yesterday's front page
story confirmed that nothing has changed and the Dispatch continues
to report only one side of the story.
Though there is much in yesterday's story
to rebut, the most shocking omission is the fact that early
this week we finally received from the management and board,
after weeks of classic union-busting tactics, a formal request
to meet with them to discuss the situation in accordance with
our contract. The day before the Dispatch story appeared, we
accepted their request and offered to meet with them as early
as this Monday. None of this was reported by the Dispatch and
instead, a quote from Executive Director Tony Beadle, falsely
claiming that we have refused for weeks to meet with them, was
printed.
The Columbus Dispatch has no interest
in balanced reporting and today's commentary is an admission
of this truth. Why else would they print this defensive piece
the day after their latest attack on the musicians?
March 14, 2008
Columbus Symphony: Could it really die?
By Michael Grossberg
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
The Columbus Symphony has endured its share of financial challenges,
often requiring bailouts from wealthy individuals, corporations
and the community.
NOTE: The CSOC will have to respond
in depth later to the numerous half-truths and misrepresentations
found in this article. As usual the Dispatch and the CSO management
infer that the musicians are not negotiating when in fact the
negotiations have not yet begun because no contract has been
offered.
The CSO asserts, as it has in the past,
that there is some stash of donor cash that will flow if the
musicians sign a terrible contract: in this case one which fires
22 of its members.
In 2005 when the 53 musicians of the
CSO agreed
to 1.3 million dollars in contract concessions this was
the exact plea of the Board of the CSO when they threatened
bankruptcy. This tactic does not work twice. Could it be that
this Board of Trustees, because of turnover, does not even remember
what it did 3 years ago?
The Symphony did not have any effective
plan for recovery and they are again in a state of panic. We
calmly recognize that their panic is intended to divide the
musicians in pursuit of a contract which vastly cuts the quality
of the CSO. Is this what the community wants from a symphony
Board of Trustees?
March 12, 2008
LETTER TO THE EDITOR
Orchestra
at center of cultural appeal
We have lived in Meigs County on a farm for more than 30 years,
a peaceful and pastoral environment that we cherish. We are
educated, love the arts and are not poor.
March 11, 2008
COLUMBUS DISPATCH
Maestro
misses rites for father in Japan
Junichi Hirokami, music director of the Columbus Symphony, conducted
weekend concerts while in mourning for his father, who died
Thursday in Japan.
March 10, 2008
The CSO has completed its live recording project.
Details and photos in this press
release.
February 28, 2008
Drew McManus today writes new observations on
the CSO situation.
In Columbus, They’re Playing Like There’s
No Tomorrow
"It is one thing to suggest a reduction in
the operating budget when accompanied by an eye on recovery
but it is another matter to do so without any plans past implementation.
In the case of the CSO's proposed financial plan, there are
few indicators as to what the organization plans to do from
a strategic sense if the cuts are enacted."
Read this here:
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/02/in-columbus-the.html
February 26, 2008
Columbus Symphony Musicians Vote To Allow Live Recording
Next week’s Columbus Symphony Orchestra program will be
recorded live for the international recording company Denon,
which will release it on compact disc. At the personal request
of Music Director Junichi Hirokami, the Musicians voted to allow
this recording under a new national recording agreement which
allows live recordings to be produced for a tenth of what a
normal studio recording of the same program would cost.
“Although the Musicians will be paid far less than usual
for this recording, we want to memorialize the artistic summit
achieved by the CSO, which has taken decades to reach, before
it may be destroyed next season by controlling members of the
CSO Board and Executive Director Tony Beadle, who are publicly
advocating the firing of 22 Musicians at the end of this summer”,
said Douglas Fisher, a member of the orchestra and President
of the Central Ohio Federation of Musicians, the Musician’s
Union.
Most of the recording expenses will be personally underwritten
by former CSO Board Chair Gene D’Angelo. “We are most
grateful to Gene for his long standing support of the CSO”,
said Jim Akins, Chair of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra Committee,
which represents the Musicians. “Gene personifies the high
degree of passion and commitment for the orchestra that the
present leadership lacks, and which is so desperately needed.”
The CSO will record Symphony No. 5 and the Romeo and Juliet
Fantasy Overture by Peter Tchaikovsky for the Denon release.
George Gershwin’s Rhapsody in Blue will also be recorded
for possible release in the future.
For further information please contact Douglas Fisher at 614-783-3684
or Jim Akins at 614-361-1481. Also, please visit www.symphonymusicians.com,
the official website of the CSO Musicians.
February 24, 2008
Columbus
Symphony
Schedule to be launched in fall with extra-spatial guest
By Gary Budzak
The Columbus Dispatch
The Columbus Symphony announced its 2008-09 classical concert
season
today, despite the possibility of a musicians strike
later this year.
"I can't let the thought of a strike
deter me from planning a season,"
said Tony Beadle, the symphony's executive director.
"If there is no strike and
I'm not having concerts, then I'm in
trouble, so I just go ahead and plan accordingly."
What's all this talk about a strike?
Are they trying to not sell subscriptions?
February 21, 2008
WOSU's Arts Unscripted with Christopher Purdy and Barbara
Zuck this week deals with issues concerning the Columbus Symphony
Orchestra.
Listen or download here: (4.7MB)
http://stream.publicbroadcasting.net/production/mp3/national/local-national-678769.mp3
February 21, 2008
CSO [Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra] searches for leader
Symphony in need of a visionary
http://news.enquirer.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20080221/ENT/302210090
"Up the road in Columbus, administrators of the Columbus
Symphony, a much smaller, regional orchestra, are proposing
to slash performances, budget size and 22 musicians from its
rank of 53. Such drastic measures could never happen in Cincinnati,
[music director] Järvi says."
Read the results and thoughtful
reader comments of the Columbus Dispatch poll:
Click
to vote and see the comments
February 19, 2008
Examining Columbus’ Master Agreement Part 2
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/02/examining-col-1.html
February 18, 2008
Alessandro Siciliani has a management
web page represented by Philip
M. Dobard and Timothy R. Watkins: names familiar to the
Columbus arts community.
February 18, 2008
Recent pages which contain letters to the Columbus
Dispatch about the CSO.
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2008/02/14/webletters.html?sid=101
http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/editorials/stories/2008/02/11/webletters.html?sid=101
February 18, 2008
Charity
Navigator rates the CSO
The
Central Ohio Better Business Bureau rates the CSO
Neither entry appears favorable.
February 13, 2008
Examining Columbus’ Master Agreement
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2008/02/examining-colum.html
CSO Executive Director Tony Beadle reveals the CSO Board's
specific plans to eliminate the jobs of all the section string
players in the CSO.
February 12, 2008
Letter to the Editor of the Columbus Dispatch
Although the recent report issued by the Columbus
Symphony Orchestra Board is subtitled, “The Path to Financial
Stability and Future Growth,” even a cursory reading demonstrates
that the actual “Path” is one leading to the destruction
of a great orchestra.
The report and conclusion that the season should be shortened
by twelve (12) weeks, causing a severe loss of income for the
Musicians, and the firing of twenty-two musicians of an already
small group of fifty-three, can only lead to the loss of the
best players who would of necessity, seek other employment in
orchestras that provide at least the current level of their
compensation. It is of course the best musicians who have the
best chance to find employment with other orchestras. Moreover,
with such a short season and the specter of more firings in
the future, the number and quality of new recruits would likewise
be greatly reduced. The idea of downgrading the “product”
as the way to increase revenue is absurd - none of these Board
members would do such a thing to their own products or services.
History has shown that orchestras which have tried that approach
soon went out of business altogether. They include the orchestras
of San Jose, Savannah, Oakland, and most recently, the Florida
Philharmonic in Ft. Lauderdale. In each case the musicians were
required to take severe reductions in wages and benefits in
order to “save” the symphony and in each case the
orchestra shut down permanently.
It is also startling to read that raising additional contributed
revenue - which is the primary function of any Board - is only
an “interim solution.” If “sustainability”
is the goal, how is that attained by failing to sustain the
artistic excellence of the orchestra? Using the San Diego and
Nashville orchestras as the models to be emulated is more than
curious. By their own description those orchestras were ultimately
“saved” by the efforts of their Boards to find “additional
contributed revenue.” They are now both flourishing with
orchestras much larger and more expensive than the Columbus
Symphony.
Blaming the musicians for the Board's failure is a classic case
of blaming the victim. The report describes the sacrifices the
musicians have made in the past, which allegedly would have
given the Board time to correct the financial problems. Because
those sacrifices were considered to be temporary, the labor
contract contained a “recovery” of these losses in
the final year of the agreement. The willingness of the musicians
to accept reductions in the early years of the agreement, was
to provide the Board with time to fix things. Now the report
attacks the “recovery” of these losses before the
concessions as “backloading,” as if there were huge
increases in the final year. Apparently, the Board follows the
philosophy of “no good deed goes unpunished.”
The report also describes the Board's failure to raise more
revenue as a “structural deficit.” That notion, already
recognized in the symphonic industry, is actually a confession
by the Board that they are unable, or unwilling, to seek and
obtain new and increased sources of contributions by claiming
that no opportunities for fundraising are available in the entire
community. The enormous growth of this city over the last few
years belies this theory completely.
Finally, by carefully choosing other orchestras to compare to,
one can prove virtually any proposition. For instance, why not
compare the CSO to the orchestras of Cleveland and Cincinnati?
They are both Ohio-based symphonies and their musicians enjoy
full 52 week seasons, as well as substantially higher wages
and benefits.
The inescapable conclusion is that this report is nothing more
than a biased, uninformed argument by which the Board blames
all of their failures on others, especially the musicians who
provide the Columbus community with the best of the world's
music, serving the economic interests, and educating the children
to appreciate this marvelous art form.
Leonard Leibowitz, Counsel
International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
(ICSOM)
| February 12, 2008 |
|
February 12, 2008
Congratulations to the Nashville Symphony Orchestra
which received 3
Grammy awards for its album Made
in America at the 50th annual Grammy Awards. "Best
Orchestral Performance" and "Best Classical Album."
The Columbus Symphony Board of Trustees suggests
that the CSO is a peer orchestra to the Nashville Symphony in
its 48 page plan for slashing the CSO budget, season, and musicians.
See
the CSO plan. (a 500K pdf will open in a new window)
The Nashville Symphony is, however, an increasingly huge success
story while the Columbus Symphony is now renowned for years
of pessimism and cuts leading to the new plans for massive downsizing.
Visit the Nashville Symphony's web
site to see an organization whose vision is gaining international
attention and moving them in the opposite direction.
February 9, 2008
American Federation of Musicians president
Thomas Lee's response to the Columbus Dispatch
February 1, 2008
Editor, The Dispatch
34 S. 3rd St.
Columbus, OH 43215
Dear Editor:
In the editorial, “Out
of Tune," you endorse the claim that an elimination
of over 25% of the Columbus Symphony’s performances and
a reduction in the Symphony’s size to a level that is 58%
of its current size is what is needed to secure a bright future
for the Symphony.
To implement such measures would be to try to alleviate a symptom
- the budget deficit - without addressing the problem that has
created the situation. When one compares the financial situation
of the Columbus Symphony to that of other orchestras, it becomes
apparent that management has failed to initiate and implement
successful marketing and fundraising plans, which are central
components of any growing orchestra.
And, as your editorial sates, the Symphony’s endowment
is not large compared to other orchestras in major cities. This
is a failure of management to raise funds for the endowment.
Your editorial concludes that the musicians, audiences, and
the Columbus arts community should pay the price for management’s
ineffectiveness. However, the elimination of musicians’
jobs and performances will not solve the problems that management
faces. It will only allow management to continue to generate
revenue poorly, knowing that it can layoff musicians and further
deteriorate the schedule as its inability to manage effectively
remains.
The Columbus Symphony musicians are some of the hardest working,
most talented, and dedicated musicians in the world. Their salaries
are average at best, given the size of Columbus, which is the
15th largest city in the US; yet musicians in at least 20 orchestras
in other cities have higher salaries.
The problem is not and has never been the musicians or their
salaries. They are what bring life to the Symphony and the reason
it enjoys a first-rate reputation. The more that the conversation
is framed in terms of labor cost reductions, the more it strays
from a discussion of the actual causes of the Symphony’s
budget problems.
Sincerely and fraternally,
Thomas F. Lee
President, AFM
http://www.afm.org/news/president-lee-s-letter-on-columbus-symphony
February 9, 2008
|
|
The CSO web site now has a button about a Michael Feinstein
concert. Go to columbussymphony.com
and click on it.
It goes directly to a ticket ordering page. No text about
the the concert. No information about the artist. If you
look in the web site's "calendar" view it is
not linked to the date. Is this marketing?
|
February 9, 2008
NOW
YOU'RE TALKING
Symphony concerts receive fair share of publicity
COLUMBUS DISPATCH:
"We have no policy, per se, about publicizing
symphony concerts. Nor do we view ourselves as responsible "for
supporting our local professional classical artists." "
February 8, 2008
letter to the Dispatch as seen here
Management has failed orchestra
Friday, February 8, 2008 3:11 AM
Responding to the Jan. 28 Dispatch editorial "Out of tune,"
I say the Columbus Symphony Orchestra musicians give fiery performances,
bring the joy of music to the audience and do play in tune.
The CSO board and management, however, are incapable of raising
money for the orchestra and they are ones who should be fired.
DORA LEVENSTEIN
Reynoldsburg
February 8, 2008
letter to the Dispatch as seen here
Columbus Symphony Orchestra
Shame on you for such a one-sided picture of the Columbus Symphony
situation! Aside from the incredible lack of regard shown to
Columbus Symphony musicians by contacting your paper before
discussing it with the musicians (bad faith bargaining?), but
management's documentation was formulated without participation
of the musicians or music director.
As a 23-year member of the Nashville Symphony (a "comparison"
orchestra), I assure you that a board that doesn't raise a suitable
endowment to sustain an orchestra dooms it to failure. Cutting
an already tiny core orchestra of 53 is equivalent to signing
a death warrant. No musician would stay around waiting to be
hired as a sub or extra.
Someone dropped the ball and it's not the musicians who only
two years ago gave back $1.3 million in concessions to help
build a stronger, more financially stable organization. It's
not a "bailout" this orchestra needs, it for the board
to step up and do their job, including hiring competent management.
Nashville was devastated by a bankruptcy; including a reduced
orchestra and less weeks. Downsizing was not the answer. By
the way, Nashville hasn't had a $9 million budget in years.
We have 82 full time musicians and a $15 million budget.
Laura Ross
Nashville Symphony Orchestra
February 8, 2008
City
ready to boost the arts
Struggling symphony among groups to benefit
Friday, February 8, 2008
By Michael Grossberg and Robert Vitale
Columbus City Council members are expected to announce financial
support today for several cultural groups, including the struggling
Columbus Symphony.
The money, which would come mostly from higher-than-expected
hotel-room tax revenue, is likely to be matched by Franklin
County commissioners and corporate donors.
February 7, 2008
4
letters about the CSO at the Dispatch today
February 6, 2008
To the Editor of the Columbus Dispatch:
Despite the assertions made in the Columbus Dispatch
editorial "Out of Tune"
(January 28), the egregious proposal to decimate the Columbus
Symphony would
sentence this cherished cultural institution to its demise and
would most
certainly lead to "a failed and shuttered orchestra."
No business model that suggests that a board can solve financial
difficulties by
offering an inferior product to its consumers will ever be successful.
The question for Columbus should not be "can we continue
to afford to support
our orchestra", but rather "how can we afford not
to?" Too often lost in the
discussion of orchestras in America is the simple fact that
the arts are good
business. The non-profit culture industry provides over 5.7
million jobs and
accounts for over $166 billion in economic activity every year,
including over
$330 million in Greater Columbus alone!
Across the country, exciting things are happening for symphony
orchestras. They
are growing, they are thriving. Although we often hear a negative
portrayal of
the health of orchestras, in reality attendance is up, downloads
are rising
faster than for any other musical genre, operas are filling
movie theaters, and
the New York Times is proclaiming that this could be "the
Golden Age for
Classical Music."
Why should Columbus be left out of this renaissance? The Columbus
Symphony is
recognized as one of this nations' finest. The orchestra enriches
the cultural
life of the community, serves as an enticement for business,
and promotes
Columbus' thriving reputation.
Investing in this orchestra is not "another bailout",
it is indeed an investment
with many tangible returns. There should be no doubt that the
greater the
investment, the greater those returns will be.
As the Wall Street Journal published recently, "Contrary
to rumors, symphony
orchestras have a bright future." The Columbus Symphony
should be growing in
order to continue its exemplary service to the citizens of Ohio.
It is simply a failure of leadership that has led to this draconian
proposal
from the board, and indeed it is that very failure of leadership
that results in
the "diminished confidence" of those who might otherwise
contribute to the
orchestra. Why then should trust be placed in this radical recipe
for failure
when it was designed by those who are responsible for creating
this atmosphere
of "diminished confidence"?
The musicians of the Columbus Symphony offer a message of hope
for this
beautiful city. Their commitment to community service is inspirational,
and
support is already pouring in from musicians and leaders all
over the world. The
citizens and political leaders of Columbus must ask why this
board, while
charged with serving their community, is promoting such a negative
view of the
future of the arts in your city?
This great orchestra deserves leadership that will inspire
the community to
believe it can achieve great things, and inspire every individual
to achieve
something greater than themselves. Instead, their only "plan"
is to destroy the
investment that Columbus has made in this Symphony for 56 years.
The citizens of Columbus deserve better from the stewards of
their community.
Rest assured that in these coming months, business leaders
and artists
throughout the nation will be watching Columbus. They will hope
to see a
demonstration of confidence in the future of this city. The
musicians of the
Columbus Symphony, and indeed musicians across the country,
will be offering
positive messages of hope and investment. I ask the board of
the Columbus
Symphony, as well as all community leaders, to hear their positive
harmony and
to reject the negative rhetoric of those who would suggest that
your city cannot
achieve all that it deserves.
Bruce Ridge
Chair, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians
(ICSOM)
www.icsom.org
February 6, 2008
more CSO letters to the Dispatch
Cartoon
showed city's backward thinking
5
letters on this page
1
letter on this page
February 3, 2008
|
"Not only are we competing
with other arts and other forms of entertainment we're
competing with the concept of cocooning where you get
a DVD and stay home."
Tony Beadle, CSO executive director,
on WOSU
radio 1/31/08
|
|
Is the CSO really competing or pretending to compete?
CSO WEB SITE OBSERVATIONS
The CSO's web presence endures ongoing neglect. If you don't
know how things are at the CSO these are good clues as to
how it is being managed by the people who think it doesn't
deserve to exist at its present level.
Unfortunately the CSO site is flash so it doesn't allow linking
to individual pages so you will have to find these yourself.
- The CSO is selling subscriptions which include concerts
which have already passed as far back as October. Rather than
repackaging the subscriptions and retotaling them as concerts
go by, they have neglected this. Clearly they have no interest
in actually selling tickets. It turns out that nobody on staff
is tracking this.
- The CSO's "press releases" page has NO FUTURE
EVENTS listed.
- The CSO's "special offers" link on its web site
has NEVER had a special offer on it. Just the words. "Sorry,
there’s no special offer available. Please visit us again
soon."
- The CSO's endowment page only shows a photo of an empty
concert hall. No further information.
- "Purdy's Corner" had no entry for the Classical
Concerts of February 2 and 3. No future entries are there.
- The online program notes promised in the Fall program book
have not appeared. See the lower right paragraph on this
jpg.
- Some concerts in the schedule do not list the correct repertoire
or conductor. Maestro Hirokami will be conducting the concerts
of March 7, 8, 9. He is not listed.
-The CSO is selling CDs but they neglect to mention who the
conductor is. His name begins with Alessandro.
- The CSO's YouTube page has no video of the Columbus Symphony
Orchestra. Just some other stuff.
http://www.youtube.com/columbussymphony
- The CSO's MySpace page now has NO FUTURE EVENTS listed.
http://www.myspace.com/columbussymphony
- The CSO's blog page now has NO FUTURE EVENTS listed. It's
nearly always out of date.
http://columbussymphony.blogspot.com
- Ironically, the most attractive PR work the CSO has ever
put forth is the document titled
which outlines the destruction of the CSO scheduled for September,
2008. You will find this blue button on the front page of
the web site. Not mentioned is that when you click on it you
will be downloading a 48 page 1/2 Megabyte pdf file.
http://www.columbussymphony.com
February 3, 2008
Listen to Fred Andrle's Open Line radio show on WOSU 820am
Monday, February 4 at 11:00AM
The future of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and
the importance of orchestras to the Central Ohio community,
with Ohio State University School of Music Director of Orchestras
Marshall
Haddock, Ohio Wesleyan University English and Humanities
Professor Emeritus Lyman Leathers, Evening Standard music
commentator Norman
Lebrecht, and Columbus Dispatch music critic Barbara Zuck.
You may listen online archived at:
http://www.wosu.org/radio/radio-open-line
February 3, 2008
Hoping for an encore
As
clouds hover over the Columbus Symphony, three musicians ponder
the future . . .
By Tim Feran and Michael Grossberg
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
If the Columbus Symphony -- facing a $1.5 million
deficit after a record deficit of $2.2 million the previous
season -- were cut from 53 to 31 full-time players and its
number of performances were reduced, the lives of musicians
would change.
Please note: The
prominent stand alone sentence at the beginning of this article,
stating that full-time musician salaries range from $55,000
to $110,000 is deliberately misleading but consistent with
the Dispatch's support of the Board's plans to throw 22 musicians
out on the street and force a 30% salary and benefit cut from
the few who would remain.
A large majority of the full-time musicians are paid a base
annual salary of about $55,000. There are about 20 principal
and assistant principal musicians, most of whom earn an additional
10% to 20% above that amount. What technically increases the
salary range to $110,000 is the fact that a single musician,
the concertmaster, is paid double section scale, which is
a minimum industry standard. In fact in many orchestras, the
concertmaster is paid as much as three times section scale.
January 30, 2008
Today the Columbus Symphony Orchestra sent
to its own e-mail list a presale announcement for CAPA's
presentation of Lion King which will occupy the
Ohio Theatre all of September, 2008.
Does this mean that the CSO has no plans to schedule
CSO concerts in September as they always have in the past?
We don't know.
Call the CSO at at 614-228-8600. Or use this
link to email them via their feedback form.
Their plans for reducing the CSO season weeks by 12
will accommodate many Disney productions in the Ohio Theatre.
January 30, 2008
more letters to the Dispatch today
City
must do its best to help
May,
2005: The CSO Musicians have accepted a steep pay cut in a
new master agreement. Information is available in 
