More Change In Store For New Jersey

I received a press release this morning from the New Jersey Symphony Orchestra announcing that their president & CEO, Simon Woods, has accepted a position as the Chief Executive of the Royal Scottish National Orchestra and will leave the organization by July 1st, 2005. The press release goes on to state that the orchestra’s board chair, Dr. Victor Parsonnet, will be assuming the executive role in a supervisory position until a …

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Catching Up With Canton’s Calendar

At the end of last week, I published an article which examined a new marketing initiative from the Canton Symphony.  Since then, quite a few readers took the time to send an email about the idea of a calendar like this.  Additionally, I took the time to call the Canton Symphony president & CEO, Linda Moorhouse, to talk to her about the project. Drew McManus: What are the motives behind the …

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Determination In The Face Of Adversity

As the Utah Symphony & Opera begins their European tour, they’ll be traveling without one of their long time members; violinist Misha Boguslavsky.  Mr. Boguslavsky passed away last month from complications due to diabetes and heart disease. Mr. Boguslavsky was one of the handful of musicians who came to the U.S. from the former Soviet Union during the days of the Cold War.  I remember growing up in latter half of …

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Performing Gustav Mahler In Abject Squalor

Perhaps classical music isn’t so far removed form cultural consciousness than we thought.  On last evening’s episode of The Simpsons, the town of Springfield’s Cultural Advisory Board determines that the best way to raise their cultural standing compared to their refined neighbors in Shelbyville is to build a new concert hall. To put themselves at the cusp of the cultural edge they contact Frank Gehry to design their hall (Mr. Gehry …

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Double Reed Musicians: Armed and Dangerous

In response to the Friday’s post about an orchestra memo banning firearms in the workplace I received this note from oboist and blogger Patty Mitchell, NO firearms to rehearsals or runouts? Geesh. They sure take the fun out of everything! (But they can’t take away our reed knives.) Patty is always successful at making me smile.  And for those of you who have been writing in asking if that memo really …

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