More and more I read about the new media and the great opportunities they represent for orchestras enabling them to reach many by creating an on-line community of supporters and the potential for personal connections. Not just between the orchestra and their supporters, but between the supporters also. In Springfield we have discussed this without making any firm decisions, and then something wonderful happened, a true audience connection……..
Ron Spigelman
Alecia Lawyer: Music’s many purposes as our chosen language
I’m pleased to welcome back guest author Alecia Lawyer, Executive Director/Founder/Principal Oboe of the River Oaks Chamber Orchestra who writes a deeply personal post about her response to a tragic event…..
What I’ve not missed out on: part 2…and a tribute
Having written in June about my love of conducting Ballet and with my recently announced appointment as Principal Pops Conductor with the Fort Worth Symphony one might think I’m trying to banish myself to the equivalent of Conducting purgatory. I beg to differ!……..
What’s really going on in Oregon?….
A war of words is being engaged in Portland right now between the press and the administration with an emphasis on who’s facts are correct. Accusations and assertions followed by rebuttals and damage control, it’s familiar stuff , pro sports teams go through it daily! There is also a note being sounded by executive director Elaine Calder that is hopefully not a signal of things to come. Their board has the real power to affect the orchestra’s future and a statement by their chairperson needs to be heeded and examined, and not dismissed!….
There’s a hole in my bucket….
It’s been a whirlwind trip to London and we packed a lot in. On the second day I met up with an old friend and colleague that thanks to this blog I was able to reconnect with. He asked me a question that put into sharp focus that there might be an end game to think about when it comes to a career, and that is:
What is my repertoire “bucket list”?…..
Sticking it in the (buck)eye!……
I want to piggy back onto what Bill wrote. I completely agree with him and want to add that even when a conductor moves to their orchestra’s community, that alone wont guarantee an orchestra’s success! I moved to Springfield but I wasn’t required to, I made a personal choice. The board of an orchestra can negotiate the terms of employment and my guess is that Columbus didn’t require Junichi to be a resident….so it’s his fault that he didn’t move there, and that’s why they are in their current situation? Please!
Got Arts?…..
The NPAC conference received mixed reviews, I didn’t attend and as with any large conference there was bound to be both accolades and criticisms. I was disturbed to read about the last town hall meeting, and in my mind it brought up a question that the arts must face in the future:
Which is more important: That the Arts matters to people or that the Arts cares about people?…….
The Long and Winding Road……
So here in Syracuse, having a wonderful time and as of Yesterday, three concerts down, two to go, I read the news today oh boy…(I will explain the Beatles references), there is news to report and I’m tremendously excited as an old friend and myself have once again Come Together giving me a Ticket to Ride to Get back to where (I )once belonged……