Ballet Hawaii Stands Up For Live Orchestra Music

As leaders at the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO) continue to promise then postpone news about the beleaguered organization’s fate, Ballet Hawaii has gone on record saying that they intend to use live music for their annual Nutcracker performances. Traditionally, the Ballet uses the HSO for the concerts, however, those plans could be interrupted if the HSO decides to file bankruptcy and cancel remaining concerts. Hawaii News Now produced a television segment about the HSO and Ballet that quotes representatives from the Ballet saying that they can’t imagine performing without live music…

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Honolulu Update: Hurry Up And Wait

Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO) board chair, Peter Shaindlin, postponed a scheduled announcement about the organization’s immediate future as well as a meeting with city officials to discuss the orchestra’s economic position. An article in the 11/4/09 edition of the Honolulu Adviser reported city officials saying they found the cancellation “…frustrating and disappointing.” Furthermore, KITZ.com reports the musicians’ union has filed a complaint with the federal labor board following shortages as high as 50 percent in their most recent paychecks…

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Honolulu’s Paint Isn’t Even Dry But It’s Starting To Peel

Not even two months after the Honolulu Symphony Orchestra (HSO) appointed Majken Mechling as Executive Director and reports are already flying around that the organization may file bankruptcy as early as today. According to a report in the 11/3/09 edition of the Honolulu Adviser by Rick Daysog the “symphony’s board of directors held a special meeting [last Friday] to discuss the organization’s continued financial problems and discussed a potential bankruptcy filing and other options”…

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A Brief Detour

My apologies to everyone showing up today looking for Part 2 from A Worthwhile Concessionary Agreement but while traveling the road of acquiring some necessary permissions we have hit a few potholes; in particular, the gods of travel and digital communication have not been smiling on our venture. Nonetheless, Part 2 will be posted as soon as possible. In the meantime, I received an interesting press release on behalf of former Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) music director, Mario Venzago, containing a statement from the conductor on events related to his non-renewal…

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Apparently, Philadelphia Is Out Of Alignment

Since next week features the 2009 Orchestra Website Reviews, it makes sense to fit in some time to examine the news out of Philadelphia about that orchestra’s new chief administrator. According to statements made by Philadelphia Orchestra board chair, Richard B. Worley, Allison Vulgamore will be taking over as the executive administrator on or about February 1, 2010…

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