Last month President Hawley and Secretary-Treasurer Apana visited with the New World Symphony fellows to speak to them about the AFM. They were joined by AFM staff members Rochelle Skolnick and Debbie Newmark, as well as ROPA president Steve Wade and ICSOM chair Keith Carrick. These visits have taken place annual for many years, and discussions include auditions, orchestra contracts, and more.
Palm Beach Opera Orchestra musicians took a survey to share their concerns as we prepare to negotiate with Palm Beach Opera for a new collective bargaining agreement. The current agreement expires in May. The current contract gives musicians first right of refusal for work, and also governs who moves into leadership positions. That language is currently being tested, as rather than move one of our tenured musicians into the concertmaster seat when the concertmaster was absent, the opera chose to hire someone from outside the orchestra. We have filed a grievance over this violation.