Last Month at the Local
2022 In Review
2022 was a much better year for musicians than 2021. After a year of pandemic-related shutdowns, musicians started returning to work late in 2021 and things started returning to normal in 2022.
In January we concluded negotiations with Broadway Across America. February saw Palm Beach Opera auditions welcoming violist Jeremy Julio Laurenta and violinist Simon Popovski to the orchestra. In March, fellows at the New World Symphony learned from Local officers and AFM staff about what the AFM is and does. We also had a quorum of members attend our March membership meeting.
In April musicians began discussing a request from Palm Beach Opera to rotate seating in the string section on a trial basis. The scale committee began meeting in May to discuss changes to our minimum wage scales, which were approved by members at a membership meeting in June. Officers also attended the AFM Southern Conference in June. Palm Beach Opera ROPA delegate Laura Miller attended the ROPA conference in August, as Broadway Across America committee members reviewed proposed changes to their hiring list.
Local 655 had its 109th birthday in September as Symphony of Americas musicians learned about a number of musician firings as their new music director assumed command. In October, Palm Beach Opera musicians voted to approve string rotation as the Local finally returned to in-person meetings after two years of virtual meetings.
In December, musicians performed for Andrea Bocelli and Salute to Vienna, as well as Miami City Ballet's Nutcracker, all under the protection of AFM agreements. Here's to hoping things continue to improve for musicians in 2023.
