Symphonic Shorts
Dealing With Management...part 1
You’re upset about working 4-hour services with only a 5-minute break. You go up to the contractor and complain; he laughs in your face and never hires you again.
If you went up with everyone else in the ensemble to back you up, chances are you’d be more likely to get something done. The unity of the musicians is the single most important source of power in an orchestra; by yourself you might accomplish little, but together you can move mountains.
When the Kennedy Center Orchestra began their 1989 negotiations, they were far behind similar other orchestras in the country. 50% behind in wages, in fact. The musicians, armed with the facts, stood together and held their ground-and won their 50% increase!
Moral of the story? If musicians are pro-active, stand together to build strength and take control into their own hands, they can win.
In future installments:
What happens when you can’t agree (or, "Divided we Fall")
What actually goes into negotiating a contract? (Hands-on with BPO and FPO committees)
Hands-on with organizing the PBOO
How to win negotiations...case studies from around the country
The Florida Philharmonic
Born in 1985 through a merger of the Fort Lauderdale Symphony and the Boca Raton Symphony Orchestra, the Philharmonic Orchestra of Florida (or POOF, as it was originally known) has since been rechristened The Florida Philharmonic Orchestra and has grown into the largest performing arts organization in the state and the largest orchestra south of Atlanta. Originally led by Fort Lauderdale Symphony conductor Emerson Buckley, James Judd became Music Director in 1987 and Peter Nero became Pops Conductor in 1992. They released their first CD in 1992 and their award-winning second CD, of Mahler’s Symphony No. 1, was released in 1994.
Grants
The Miami Symphony recently received $10,000 from the NEA...
News & Announcements
Philharmonic Gets New Executive Director
Elizabeth Hare has been appointed Executive Director of the Florida Philharmonic. Hare, a graduate of Rice University’s Shepherd School of Music, has been CEO of the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera since 1995, and prior to that she served as artistic administrator of the Chicago Symphony and the Honolulu Symphony. She has some previous experience working with the FPO, having served as artistic assistant for 4 months in 1994. We wish her luck in her new position.
FPO gets new principal player
David Cole recently won the audition for principal cellist with the Florida Philharmonic. He served a one-year appointment as principal cellist last year and has been a member of the orchestra since 1990 . Congratulations!
Money Raised for Charity
Members of the FPO raised $2100 for Hurricane Relief Efforts of Catholic Charities at an Informance given on November 15 at Neumann Catholic Church in Miami...members of the NWS raised $36,000 for Project Yes during their "Go for Baroque" concert on January 9.
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