Drew McManus on the orchestra business.
As of today, the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Association (CSOA) has cancelled events through April 9, 2019 and as the work stoppage marches toward the one-month mark, you can bet both sides will be turning up the PR rhetoric. To that end, let’s look at one recent talking point that crosses the spin line. Labor Disputes In The Age Of Gaslighting For decades, it’s been common to see both sides in a …
Music Directors are like milk in that they both have expiration dates; or, at least, so goes the old joke. Fortunately for conductors, they have a much longer shelf life and statistically speaking, that runs anywhere from 10 to 12 years. That amount of time usually consists of 2-3 contract cycles and provides most music directors an opportunity to get through the bulk of desired repertoire. If the group was amid …
The Society of Composing Tradition issued a press statement today announcing a new award for orchestras that embrace what it defines as “programming music from composers that have a proven track record of success.” April 1, 2019 SOCIETY OF COMPOSING TRADITION ANNOUNCES NEW AWARD FOR COURAGEOUS PROGRAMMING OF TRADITIONAL REPERTOIRE Program will formalize a system of constructed criteria to recognize effective programming from core and living composers. NEW YORK, 4/1/2019: The …
There’s nothing quite as pleasant as connecting with someone you’ve been friends with for 15 years and enjoying a long dinner of talking shop. An even bigger thrill is when it’s the first time you’ve met face to face. That was exactly the case last night when I finally enjoyed meeting Lisa Hirsch in person. Regular readers will recognize her name as it pops up here on a regular basis thanks …
Every time a work stoppage rolls around and lasts for more than a few weeks, it is common to see some typical questions arise. To that end, today’s #TBT includes some articles I’ve written over the years that cover some of these topics. Here’s one that continues to be one of the most visited articles at the blog. Understanding The Difference Between A Strike And A Lockout While a contract expiration …