You Want Me To Do What With My Data?
Thu, Oct 10, 2020
by Drew McManus
I was all kinds of excited to see the latest post from Joe Patti at ArtsHacker. The title alone triggers one of my biggest pet peeves: Yes, Data Driven Decision Making. But What Data Is Important?. It’s exactly the right question and at the core of a conference session I present on this very topic.
Get Early Access With A Subscription
Wed, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
Tuesdays are working out as a great option for publishing new episodes of Shop Talk but who doesn’t love getting to watch programs early? To that end, for those interested in getting access to episodes a day early, you can become a subscriber at Shop Talk’s YouTube channel. Subscribe Adding subscribers will also open up
Shop Talk S01E04: Fostering BIPOC And Women Composers
Tue, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
Who says COVID shutdowns mean you can’t have a new music workshop? Nonsense! Necessity is the mother of invention and in this installment of Shop Talk we sit down with the trio of big musical brains responsible for putting together The Great Plains Composition Workshop at the Wichita Symphony Orchestra (WSO), which reached out to
Even More Research Into Making Concert Halls Safe
Mon, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
There’s a fascinating interview in the 9/25/2020 edition of KUER.com, NPR Utah, where host Caroline Ballard examines a recently completed project by a team at the University of Utah led by scientists Tony Saad and James Sutherland that studied Abravanel Hall’s airflow to help identify risk for musicians in the Utah Symphony. You can listen
Because It’s Been A Rough Week
Fri, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
It’s been a heavy-duty week and it is high time to regain a little faith in the world. To that end, violinist and cat foster Esther Abrami posted a video from one of her recent practice sessions that included a novel way to keep a foster kitten occupied. Granted, this is 10/10 adorable out of
Virginia Symphony Furloughs Make San Fran Opera Cuts Look Marginally Attractive
Wed, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
Hopefully, the Virginia Symphony Orchestra (VSO) will have an opportunity to relive what would have been their 100th anniversary because as of now, they have cancelled all concert activity through February 2021. While the group managed to secure a Paycheck Protection Program loan, those funds ran out at the end of summer and as a
Early Reports From San Francisco Opera Orchestra Settlement Look Rough
Tue, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
It appears the San Francisco Opera (SFO) and its orchestra musicians have reached an agreement for a new collective bargaining agreement. Janos Gereben was first to report on the newly ratified deal along with some key details in an article for the 9/20/2020 edition of sfexaminer.com. It appears to be a two-year deal with a
Why Are Conductors Exempt From Wearing Masks Onstage?
Mon, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
If you’ve been watching any of the early efforts from orchestras experimenting with socially distanced concerts, you’ve probably noticed that on-stage musicians are wearing masks, even wind players when they aren’t actively playing. In the handful of indoor events, audience members are wearing masks as well. So why are some conductors going without masks or
The Various Paths Of COVID Era Bargaining
Fri, Sep 9, 2020
by Drew McManus
As shutdowns continue, orchestras with regularly scheduled collective bargaining agreement (CBA) renewals are finding themselves thrust into bargaining during less than ideal conditions. Add those with need reopen existing CBAs into the mix and we’re just starting to see how all of this is unfolding. The Boston Symphony Orchestra (BSO) announced a new multi-year agreement
The Intersection Of Ethics, Accountability, and Executive Privilege At The Curtis Institute of Music