Drew McManus

Just how long is too long for a conductor to serve as music director? In Seattle, that question appears to be coming to a head following a three year contract extension for Seattle Symphony Orchestra music director Gerard Schwarz. This isn’t the first time lightning has flashed in the SSO surrounding Gerard Schwarz and over

I hope I wasn’t the only person struck by the fact that the 06/23/06 New York Times article by Dan Wakin about Gilder Lehrman Hall presented a powerful position about the nature of a performing arts organization…

I’m in Rochester, NY for the next two days taking part in the polyphonic.org strategic planning retreat. Given all the attention focused on strategic planning issues here over the past year the next few days hold a great deal of promise. In the meantime, stop by Brian Dickie’s blog: Life as General Director of Chicago

If you haven’t taken the time to visit the Virtual Discussion Panel going on right now at Polyphonic.org, you’re missing out. Today is Day 3 of a week long virtual discussion panel between composers and orchestra musicians on the subject of new music…

In case you’ve missed it, there’s a good comment thread from the June 24th blog about the articles from two music critics; one in Pittsburgh the other in Detroit. The blog has sparked an intriguing exchange between the Detroit music critic, Mark Stryker, a music director, an executive director, and more…