Discussion Panel: Page 38

The thought that came to my mind when presented with the disparity between musicians and composers was,”It does not and should not be this way.” As a member of the Utah symphony for 24 years, I have been one-hundred percent disappointed in feeling so separate from the process of presenting a brand new work to […]

In a recent review, Bernard Holland of the New York Times wrote, apropos of an American Composers Alliance concert, that “American composers, unlike most of the people who play their music, have no trade union to protect their interests and promote their work.” In his introduction to this virtual panel discussion, Drew McManus asks “Why […]

What a wonderful discussion this is going to be… initially I’d like to say…”Thank you Drew, and why haven’t we done this before?” I believe fervently that the connection between composers and orchestra musicians is paramount to the survival of our corner of the music world. The connection is the spark that makes a complete […]

Happily, I have had some wonderful experiences with players, chamber and orchestral alike, and the interaction I have with musicians is among my highest priorities/values in my professional life. Thank you (you know who you are out there) ! But yes, there are some things to discuss, and I have some things to ask. Last […]

Commissioning, acquiring, rehearsing, and performing new music are a complex processes within the typical orchestra. More often than not, when compared to traditional repertoire, new music is more expensive to produce, requires longer investments of rehearsal time, and is harder to sell to established audiences. Worse still is the inherent disconnect between the two groups […]

Sadly, all good things must come to an end, but I hope that this is the beginning, or a continuation, of the dialogue that has been taking place not only here, but across the country. First, my thanks to Drew, our moderator, for inviting me to participate on this panel and for some great advice. […]

One topic that we have not touched is student loans. I used to just sign the papers thinking that I’ll just pay them off when I get a job. How ignorant, and arrogant of me. It’s likely that many musicians will carry about $50,000 in student loan debt when they leave college. My wife and […]

First I also want to thank everyone for this wonderful opportunity to discuss these issues and come closer to answering some of the questions posed. I think that we will only arrive at solutions through continued forums like this throughout our career – constantly questioning our goals and mission and how better to achieve them. […]

I find a lot of truth in Douglas Fisher’s comments regarding orchestra boards. It seems rare to find a board that is really passionate about music and has vision for an orchestra. It falls to the Music Director and Executive Director to educate and inspire the board. Obviously it is essential for a board to […]

It seems that one of the most disheartening aspects of orchestral music is the dwindling audiences. In a country that runs on supply and demand principles, there is a lack of demand for what we do. Regardless of the causes that brought about this phenomenon, we must act aggressively in order to secure a place […]