Robert Levine posted an intriguing piece over at Abu Bratsche on 3/6/2009 regarding ongoing developments with the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) negotiations. Never the dull writer, Robert launches the post with this gem, “Labor disputes never bring out the best in employers, and orchestras are no exception.”…
Year: 2009
TAFTO 2009 Promotional Banners Now Available
Take A Friend To Orchestra (TAFTO) month is just around the corner so in order to start spreading the word, you can find a variety of promotional banners to use at your blog and/or website. This year’s look is a little grungier and also new for 2009 is the addition of a higher resolution 1500 x 900 graphic that is better suited for print material…
Is There Value In Recordings?
The Oregonian’s classical music critic, David Stabler, posted a fascinating rant on 3/5/2009 about orchestras, musicians, and recording rules. As it turns out, David’s post inspired some readers to send in some intriguing email messages about that blog post which grew into an interesting exchange about the value of orchestra recordings in the new economy (or if you watch CNN, what appears to be the fall of capitalism). Back in July, 2008 I posted an article which touches on this very subject but never really followed up on it as I should have…
It’s Time For Academia To Remove The Rose Tinted Glasses
The 3/8/2009 edition of the Chicago Tribune published an article by Howard Reich that reports on the continued rise in applicants to music schools across the country. Based on a wide variety of quotes from a broad cross section of music school administrators the article paints an idyllic picture of opportunities that await graduates but the simple fact is these institutions continue to earn a failing grade at adequately preparing students for the realities of a career in this business…
You Can Almost Smell The Lighter Fluid
With each passing week, the situation at the Wisconsin Chamber Orchestra (WCO) continues to resemble many of the characteristics defined by Scorched Earth Governance In 10 Easy Steps. The only curious aspect of this situation is the WCO has yet to indicate that the organization is having any sort of financial difficulty…