An Example Of Good Taste In Columbus

I just want to direct your attention to the Columbus (OH) Symphony Musicians website today.  The Columbus Symphony is another orchestra among the many financially troubled organizations across the country.  I wanted to point out this particular website because it’s a very good example of how one side of a very tense labor negotiation should design an informative website.  Unlike the garish, propaganda laden website published by the Philadelphia Orchestra Association (POA), the Columbus …

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Is Video Game Music The Next Big Outreach Tool?

Video Game Music

It’s been a few months since the Los Angeles Philharmonic performed selections from the soundtrack for the video game Final Fantasy.  And since that time there’s been some interesting discussion about the outreach true potential of video game music. Since that time I’ve directed a considerable amount of thinking toward this topic and I’ve come to the conclusion that video game music has a tremendous amount of potential, not just at …

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Perhaps Chairman Smoot Wants A Strike

Ever since the POA launched their public relations campaign to promote their side of the contract negotiations I’ve wondered why board chairman, Richard Smoot, took such a hard line position so quickly.  Unfortunately, I can only speculate as to why.  I’m still waiting to hear back from the POA spokesman, Steve Albertini, with an answer to that question and others; hopefully I’ll hear something soon.  But I feel that chairman Smoot’s …

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Reader Response: More From Philadelphia Patrons

The email messages from Philadelphia Orchestra patrons keep pouring in.  Everyone has an opinion about the topic which range from concern to disgust.  But it’s the letters from patrons which have really caught my attention.  Many patrons seem to be using the tone and outcome of the labor negotiations as the deciding factor regarding whether or not they will give donations to the POA. Laura from PA wrote an email saying: …

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Another Orchestra Is Gone

Although it was posted here on Arts Journal a few days ago, I wanted to mention that another small orchestra recently closed its doors forever: the Chamber Orchestra of Albuquerque has announced they will file for Chapter 7 bankruptcy. I don’t claim to know what impact the ensemble had on the local Albuquerque community, but I could see from their web site (I think it’s a very tasteful website, much nicer …

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