Darker Days Ahead In St. Paul
Mon, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
Things are looking bleak at the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) where mediated talks conducted under a press blackout have broken down. The SPCO musicians released a statement on 1/17/2013 castigating their employer for what they defined as an “unwillingness to compromise on key issues” and cancelling additional concerts through 3/23/2013. Unfortunately, neither side provided
The Most Adorable Bunch Of Tiny White Guys. Ever.
Fri, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
On 1/15/2013, ABC7 News in Chicago broadcast a segment by Frank Mathie about a new exhibit of the 100 year old miniature Chicago Symphony Orchestra (CSO), created by famous miniaturist Frances Glessner Lee as her first large scale project. Lee’s parents were plankowner angel donors to the CSO in its early years and the 75
Down To The Wire In Indianapolis
Thu, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
The Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra (ISO) is a few weeks out from their February 3, 2013 deadline to raise $5 million. The goal is part of a deal that brought performances back to the public and ended an increasingly hostile labor dispute. Functioning as something akin to a cease-fire agreement, the board accepted the goal of
Leadership Turnover In Louisville
Wed, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
The 1/13/2013 edition of the Louisville Courier-Journal published an article by Grace Schneider which reports two key leadership position changes at the Louisville Orchestral. CEO Robert Birman will be leaving his position February 1, 2013 and board president-elect Bill Lamb resigned from his position last week. Birman was at the center of a prolonged and
Tough Choices Ahead for New Jersey
Tue, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
In the wake of the Richard Dare resignation incident examined in yesterday’s article, the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) finds itself in an unenviable position of damage control. The most pressing issues are related to what appears to be a breakdown in due diligence during the executive search process. Look Below The Surface Perhaps unsurprisingly,
Dare To Do Your Diligence
Mon, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
In case you missed the bombshell news over the weekend, the New York Times published an article by Dan Wakin on 1/11/2013 which reported recently hired New Jersey Symphony Orchestra (NJSO) President & CEO Richard Dare had quit in light of a 1996 case in which he was charged with an “attempted lewd act upon”
Two Heads Are Better Than One
Fri, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
In case you’ve been missing it this week, a bit of YouTube viral madness has been making the rounds thanks to a video created by New York Philharmonic trombonist David Finlayson, who attached a GoPro camera to the slide of his trombone. The resulting slide POV clip caught made the rounds through network morning programs
Speaking Of Patron Driven Ethics
Thu, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
Following up on yesterday’s article on the impact of ethics on the current round of labor disputes, it is worthwhile to point out some recent efforts on behalf of patron stakeholders to influence the strategic decision making process within the context of a labor dispute. In St. Paul, the Save Our SPCO (St. Paul Chamber
Are Ethics A Lost Cause In The Orchestra Field?
Wed, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
The 10/26/2012 edition of the Nonprofit Quarterly published an article by Woods Bowman titled Nonprofit Accountability and Ethics: Rotting from the Head Down which examines the current state of nonprofit accountability, governance, and responsibility. Although applied to the broader nonprofit field (with particular attention toward charitable nonprofits), key elements from Bowman’s article can be applied
Growing Pains
Tue, Jan 1, 2013
by Drew McManus
If you’ve stopped by Adaptistration anytime in the past several days, you’ve probably noticed it moving v-e-r-y slowly at times. That’s the result of the blog being so damned popular that the amount of daily visitors is necessitating opening up some new hosting territory. On that point, it is genuinely humbling to know that so
