There’s a new reality show in the UK. Usually this would be an excuse to hit the Trader Vic’s (4th edition) and work on a new cocktail, but this one is different. Or worse. The name says it all – Maestro. This naturally has got me thinking about how far this could be taken (insert suitable dream music here………………………………..)
The two sides to our “face”…
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……..
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”?…..
On and on about Oregon
One thing about being busy – sometimes someone has the same idea as you but gets it out there faster. Poor old Elisha Grey is known as the also ran of the telephone because he was a couple hours late to the patent office. It happened to me this weekend. I had this great “Chicken Little” comment that was going to be my lead-in to my thoughts on the recent Oregon Symphony article, but then someone beat me to it. None-the-less, I’m betting that the blog from the Oregonian is a lot closer to the truth. But even that blogger doesn’t dwell on the symphony’s secret weapon.
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!