Executive Board Member Profiles
Leslie Bahler
Leslie has lived in south Florida since 1980, and has been a member of the Florida Philharmonic since 1983. She is also a staff and board member of the Youth Orchestra of Florida and director of the Florida Music Festival, a 2-week summer program for high school students.
She has served on two terms of the FPO orchestra committee, both times involved with negotiating the orchestra’s CBA.
"I am honored by the confidence my colleagues have shown in me, and intend our Local to be ‘instrumental’ in improving working conditions for our members and in educating buyers of music on the advantages of union collaboration."
Holly Ballard
Holly, an active horn player, has played with virtually every organization in south Florida. An involved educator as well, she teaches in Palm Beach and Broward counties and has administered for educational programs through Local 806 and Young Audiences.
She believes in our need to support one another in efforts to maintain our rights to bargain collectively and communicate thoroughly with our fellow musicians and management.
"As in any business, ours needs more exposure and development of our product to the buying public. This gives us greater opportunities to convince audiences that live music is a commodity that they cannot live without. We all benefit from each other’s successes."
Rene Barge
A University of Miami graduate, Rene has been composing original music and sound design for Radio and TV commercials. He was among the first composers in the U.S. to produce commercial music for the Hispanic market.
His production company, Music a la Carte, has won numerous Emmys, Addys, Beldings, and "Se Habla Espanol" awards.
"I will work hard to make conditions as favorable as possible in the area of recording and production. I will make my expertise available to the Local in hopes of educating our fellow members as well as the community at large. If we all work together and cooperate with each other we can make Miami as great a production center as New York or L.A."
Lou Barone
Lou is an active pianist, playing shows and performing with "Society Orchestras" as well as in his own high-energy Jazz Sextet. He is also Vice-President of the South Florida Jazz and Swing Society.
"In 1998, the greatest challenge facing the newly elected officers will be to create a dynamic, positive image of unionism and to demonstrate to all people its function and benefit in today’s modern society. To meet this challenge we will need the sincere support and active participation of our sister and brother members."
"To be successful, this requires a new attitude along with innovative ideas. Our slogan for ‘98 should be, ‘655 Has a New Look!’"
Stuart MacDonald
Stuart received his BM and MM degrees from the Manhattan School of Music. He has been in south Florida and a member of Local 655 since 1975. Since 1983 he has been an active member of the Florida Philharmonic’s orchestra and negotiating committees. The FPO’s ROPA delegate from 1987-9, he has been their OSP Steward since 1990.
"I believe the wide array of services begun by Trustee Gabriel have already turned this Local around. The fortunate addition of Peter Graves and other officers will only expand and refine the Local’s responsibility to its membership’s needs. This will all hopefully generate increased membership and participation."
Guy Scafati
Guy has been a casual and recording musician in south Florida since 1974, working as both a sideman and a leader. He is a business agent and has been the West Palm Beach MPTF liaison since last year.
"I feel positive about the success of the Local, and after meeting the other Executive Board members, I feel we will have a good working relationship. I would like to see members pay more work dues and file contracts. I would also like to see them more interested and involved in the operation of this Local. I’ll do the best I can to help members and the Local, but success depends on the membership."
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My name is now Christopher Pierce, but I dropped my last name of Rumph years ago. We had a mutual friend, John Turner in common.
Thanks,
Chris Pierce