Adaptistration

Columbus' Smoking Gun

If the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is destined to die, then patrons and the local community at-large deserve to know why the fatality should be investigated as a homicide. To that end, it is time to go hunting for clues and as it turns out, there's a smoking gun at the crime scene…

It’s The Board, Stupid

The 5/10/2008 edition of the New York Times published an article by Dan Wakin which introduces some valuable clues behind what is really going on behind the veil of spin coming from the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) executive board. Among the quotes from CSO music director Junichi Hirokami, one in particular sheds light on the root of the organization's recent financial problems…

Columbus Board Prepares To Throw In The Towel

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…

Okay, Okay, Okay, I'll Write About Muti

Riccardo Muti is scheduled to take over the Chicago Symphony Orchestra in 2010 and the cultural blogosphere is abuzz with commentary and since I don't want to get another 40 odd email messages asking why I haven't written anything about yet I decided to finally weigh-in. Frankly, I'm not certain why there is so much chatter since the whole scenario is relatively cut and dry. Most of the discussion centers on three primary points, all of which can be addressed with bite-sized answers…

Does This Violin Make Me Look Fat?

Can a passion for the perfect instrument become incapacitating? Holly Mulcahy examines the issue in her latest article at The Partial Observer, which serves as an excellent companion to the article Jason Heath just published over at Arts Addict about what string players go through to find the "perfect bow." On a related note, I'm pleased to announce that Holly's column will become a permanent addition to the Inside The Arts lineup starting next week. Her column, Neo Classical, publishes a new article on the first Monday of every month. Thanks to Mark D. Johnson, The Partial Observer's editor, for his willingness to share Holly with us. I regularly post links over to her articles each month so it made since to make her a permanent part of the cultural blogging exchange. In the meantime, you can find all of Holly's articles here.

All in all, Holly's column, along with Jason Heath's Arts Addict and Frank Almond's non divisi, should be at the top of the online reading list for every manager and board member out there. These three players provide a very different, yet enormously useful, glimpse into the world of professional orchestra players, the benefits of which I'm certain don't need to be mentioned. After all, I know firsthand that a number of musicians who frequent this orchestra management blog gain a better understanding of what their managers and board members deal with on a day-to-day basis and the benefits have been very positive. So for all of you who aren't already familiar with the daily realities of being a professional musician, take some time to check out the blogs authored by Holly, Jason, and Frank.

Travel Pay: Front And Center

Hot on the heels of a post about the impact of increased gas prices, the 5/1/2008 edition of The Isthmus-Madison published an article by Tom Laskin which reports on the current collective bargaining agreement negotiations between the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) and their musicians. One of the primary issues examined in the article is how the organization will address changes to travel pay…

Inside The Arts Podcasts Have Arrived

After months of talking about it, the new series of Inside The Arts podcasts have arrived. The inaugural episode, entitled Battle Of The Brahms, is available at www.insidethearts.com/podcasts. Guest panelists Frank Babbitt, Collins Trier, and John Rosenkrans (all members of the Lyric Opera of Chicago Orchestra) do a brilliant job at demonstrating how to un-stuff the stuffiness of a classical music review program. You'll feel like you're part of the "in crowd" and in some sections the conversation is downright hilarious. Good times.

Something worth pointing out is the program's format allows the podcast to use audio clips longer than 60 seconds thanks in large part to the innovative licensing structure at iodapromonet.com. In fact, the only reason some of the music was edited was to keep the podcast around 15 minutes in length. Fortunately, you'll be able to listen to entire movements and purchase the ones you like best via digital download. Links to everything you need are provided at the podcast blog. Ain't technology great?

 

Too Much Of A Good Thing

Although this notice could be filed under "better late than never" I wanted to take a moment to point out an article which appeared at The Partial Observer at the beginning of April by Holly Mulcahy which examines the realities of numerous job openings in one orchestra. Holly does an excellent job of walking a reader through reasons why copious numbers of openings in the same ensemble should serve as a warning to potential audition candidates (not to mention potential managers and staffers). Personally, I think Holly's article is even more poignant given the recent news about the continuing surge in music school enrollment. Now, more than ever, students poised to enter the audition circuit need to do so with eyes wide open. Not to scare them mind you (something which music schools have misplaced fears about), but to better prepare them to avoid the sort of pitfalls and perils that would snag an otherwise talented musician who could contribute to all aspects of the business in a number of positive ways. So take a moment and give Holly's article a read.