Double Bass Columbus Symphony Orchestra Bites the Dust

[Uncletoad]

If one reads on in the same NYT article, one sees -- mirabile dictu! -- that there's another side to the story:

"Mr. Trafford {the Board Chair} said Mr. Hirokami’s appointment had not led to as large an increase in ticket sales as had been hoped."

“ 'Junichi is passionate and has a very close relationship with the musicians,' Mr. Trafford said. 'He doesn’t spend a lot of time in this country. He spends very little time with board members. He really, to be honest, doesn’t have a basis for a lot of the statements that he makes. They should be regarded for what they are: emotional outbursts that aren’t grounded in fact.' "

It's easy to say something like, "The orchestra should stay and the Board should go."* But how will that close the substantial budget deficit?

Yes I should have been more fair in my quotes, they have a balanced article there. Of course it's easy to sit in my chair and bitch. The budget deficit is real.

My point is that there is plenty of money in Columbus to support this orchestra even at it's current size and payroll. I don't buy that it's the music directors job to increase fundraising, that's a board job. I don't think they are doing that job as well as they should and are taking the easier path of downsizing than increasing funding. It could be that the current board doesn't have access to the large money in Columbus. There is plenty of it.

I will say that Hirokami has been my favorite music director including Alessandro Siciliani. He has a way of coaxing moving, deep, and well considered performances from the musicians. It shows in the excellence in performances this season.

 

[Pete G]

And I certainly don't mean to take away from the tragedy it would be if the Columbus Symphony failed, especially for the dedicated musicians. You're right, too, that fund-raising is primarily a Board responsibility, and Heifetzbass is right that sometimes orchestra administration is too top-heavy.

If fixing this were easy, it would have been fixed already.

My only point (generally, and not specifically about the Columbus situation) is that it's too easy in troubled orchestra situations simply to blame the Board for everything and to assume that the music-makers have no responsibility whatsoever.

 

[Uncletoad]

And I certainly don't mean to take away from the tragedy it would be if the Columbus Symphony failed, especially for the dedicated musicians. You're right, too, that fund-raising is primarily a Board responsibility, and Heifetzbass is right that sometimes orchestra administration is too top-heavy.

If fixing this were easy, it would have been fixed already.

My only point (generally, and not specifically about the Columbus situation) is that it's too easy in troubled orchestra situations simply to blame the Board for everything and to assume that the music-makers have no responsibility whatsoever.

I'm sure that many of the musicians who've been here a long time already should have more involvement in the community than they do.

For example Mark Morton's free concerts at the Bexley Library quarterly and his School for Double Bass created a presence that warm the community to these musicians and encourage long term investment in their retention. Not many of the other principals or long term players have similar community involvement.

That don't really get at the core money though. The Limited Brands, The Huntington Bank, Nationwide Insurance, Grange Insurance, Scottslawn, Netjets etc. all have serious heavy hitter dollars here and it's the board's job to pull them down.

 

[KSB - Ken Smith]

I mentioned this problem to my Conductor a few weeks back and he told me it's NOT over yet. Read below what he just emailed me;

An un-bylined news brief in today’s (7/9) Columbus Dispatch (Ohio) states, “The Ohio Arts Council has provisionally approved the second year of a sustainability grant for the troubled Columbus Symphony. The $136,947 grant—which comes after one of $154,907—would be issued if the orchestra confirmed a 2008-09 season and developed a debt-reduction plan. Furthermore, the orchestra wouldn’t be able to request a partial payment until after completing half of its season and spending half of the grant amount. The council board ‘recognizes that the CSO is a vital component of the Columbus community and the state,’ according to a statement from the council. The board’s aim in making the grant provisional was to protect taxpayer dollars while giving the orchestra time to get on track. The orchestra began mediated talks Monday between trustees and musicians after suspending operations June 1.”

 

[Uncletoad]

I mentioned this problem to my Conductor a few weeks back and he told me it's NOT over yet. Read below when he just emailed me;

That $250K is a drop in the bucket. If they were only that far apart somebody would have stepped up by now. Since the cancellation of the summer series nobody from the private sector is stepping up AT ALL.

I'm not optimistic.

 

[Rebop]

Here in So. Florida it's pretty bad (ok, really bad). I went to see the Nutcracker a few years ago (at a wonderful venue) and after settling into my seat I heard a loud 'pop' then the unmistakable sound of 'tape hiss' come over the PA. The pit was empty and they were using a worn-out cassette for the music (I paid good money for the tickets too). Just something a lot of other cities have to look forward to. I haven't gone to see any other "shows" since then. I have to get out of Florida; there aren't even any jazz gigs around town. But where do we go from here?