Defending Arts Entrepreneurship
December 5, 2011 In: UncategorizedAs I interact more with arts entrepreneurship professionals, especially those in music (my home field), I am appalled at how often and consistently these professionals are asked to defend their discipline. What could be more important today than equip…
Re-Imagining the Orchestra
November 28, 2011 In: UncategorizedThe fact that many American orchestras struggle to survive is no secret. In the past few years, top-tier ensembles in Philadelphia, Syracuse, Honolulu, Detroit, Louisville, Dallas, and New Mexico have cancelled concerts, issued pay cuts, declared bankr…
Who represents whom – and when?
November 21, 2011 In: UncategorizedDrew McManus rather raised the profile of the current controversy in Colorado with his post last Friday: Since the Denver Post published an opinion piece written by former Colorado Symphony Orchestra (CSO) board members Heather K. Miller and Bruce Clinton, the field has been abuzz with backchannel discussion over the tone of the letter (in […]
More on the Colorado flap
November 18, 2011 In: UncategorizedReactions to the opinion piece written by former Colorado Symphony board members Heather Miller and Bruce Clinton have been quick and generally angry. They fall into three lines of thought; the first was best summarized by Drew McManus at Adaptistration, who wrote: …But the question that should cross your mind at some point while reading […]
No Need to be Nervous…
November 17, 2011 In: MindsetThe next time you get nervous for a performance–whether soloing in Carnegie Hall or being put on the spot in a class–may be a sign that it’s time to get Fearless. This video, by the world-renowned horn player from Canadian Brass, Ind…
The Arts and Social Capital
November 14, 2011 In: Uncategorized As the “economic rationale” for supporting and funding the arts has fallen into disuse, another has risen, and one of much more substance, that of “building social capital.”
The “economic rationale” was bound to have a short life, as it never facto…
Michael Kaiser was right
In: UncategorizedI don’t find myself in agreement with Michael Kaiser very often, but he sure hit the nail on the head when he wrote this a few days ago: It is difficult to see a way out of a chronic deficit, and board members — who are volunteers after all and rarely sign up for a […]
Deep Song
November 3, 2011 In: UncategorizedAmy Winehouse’s death just a few months ago was a great tragedy and has deprived us of a unique voice and creative spirit. Her career was brief, meteoric, self-destructive and full of moments of amazing achievement. The response that she was able to command from her fans was at once affirming and provocative and in […]
Deep Song by Tony Woodcock
In: MiscellaneousDeep Song Amy Winehouse’s death just a few months ago was a great tragedy and has deprived us of a unique voice and creative spirit. Her career was brief, meteoric, self-destructive and full of moments of amazing achievement. The response … Continue reading →
Why the Louisville plan will fail
October 28, 2011 In: UncategorizedIt’s taken this long for people in the orchestra business to really come to grips with what appears to be the reality of the Louisville situation, which is that the Louisville Orchestra is now run by people who are the board and management equivalents of Dr. Strangelove. This, I think, is because no one could […]