Rainy days for some American orchestras

This week ushered in more bad weather across the country. 

In Indiana, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra musicians' contract negotiations remain frozen; another week of concerts was cancelled. The Jacksonville Symphony IS playing in the face of a long-standing contract dispute.  But the situation is getting ugly in Minnesota, where a former conductor is taking sides.  Last Friday, Minnesota Orchestra clarinetist Tim Zavadil announced that the musicians will hold their own concert (sans contract) on October 18th and that conductor laureate Stanislaw Skrowaczewski will conduct.  At 89, he’s still making waves. How can that end well?

As for the recent news of financial woes at the Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, it is the opinion of this writer that while the projected $700,000 deficit is serious, reports of internal tempests have been greatly exaggerated. This Sunday’s editorial in the Democrat and Chronicle paints a picture of two leaders working together despite personal and artistic conflicts.  Comparisons are odious, but really, it could be worse.  And the musicians are still playing.

Here’s more good news: thanks to the many, many generous music lovers working together to do something positive, this past weekend’s race for the RPO Kids concerts, the Photo Finish 5K 2012 at the George Eastman House, was a huge success, helping raise $2,619 for educational programs at the RPO (and more than $10,000 for the Hochstein School of Music and Dance!)

Mona Seghatoleslami and I ran in the rain together, she as part of the Hochstein School Team.    

Thank you to everyone who got in touch to be part of this effort.  See you at the RPO.