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Symphony on the brink?
Musicians shocked by proposed job cuts
Friday, January 18, 2008
BY MICHAEL GROSSBERG
Leaders of the financially troubled Columbus Symphony are proposing dramatic cuts in the number of full-time musicians and the number of weeks the musicians perform. The restructuring plan is designed to get the symphony on firm financial footing and ensure its survival.
“This is to try to save the orchestra and enable us to grow it into something special,” said Robert “Buzz” Trafford, chairman of the symphony board.
Trafford presented the proposal yesterday to six musicians. The group walked out about 45 minutes into the meeting when they learned how many musicians would be let go under the plan.
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Columbus Symphony Orchestra on the brink?
By: Walker
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A night out with CU at the symphony could be good. Someone contact me if you want to make that happen. I know the person who can put that together on the symphony end.
PM’ed.
I think it sounds fun. Something other than the usual CU meetups. ;)
Andrew Hall,
If you only put that much energy into saying something positive about the current state of classical music, then maybe everything would work out for the best. I thought I was negative about the classical music scene…sheesh!
I completely agree about venue, however. When I was younger, I thought the Ohio Theater was interesting. Now that I’m older, I think it’s extremely tacky and uncomfortable. They need to play somewhere else. I realize that a lot of money has been put into improving the acoustics at the Ohio over the years, but the place just screams funeral parlor or vampire lodge or something. Plus, the balcony seats are way too uncomfortable, especially for long pieces.
As far as proper attire for the average concert-goer; it’s improved and relaxed. I personally don’t feel comfortable wearing jeans, but I’ve definitely gotten over the feeling that I have to wear a tie and sport coat. Yes, there are still some old fuddy duddies that will probably give you the eye if you wear jeans, but don’t worry– Times, they are a changin’.
Regarding isolation and the average concert goer, I will again agree, but I still think you’re stressing the negative. Did you happen to hear Lynn Harrell play the Dvorak Cello concerto earlier this season? The man is amazing. I like the tension and quiet during the piece, because when a work as dramatic as that comes to an end, all the built up energy I absorbed for the previous 25 minutes wants to come out with a cheer. Sorry, but once again, I think you’re being overly negative. If someone wants to toe tap, that’s fine, just don’t get a mint out of your pocket and unwrap it in the middle of a soft passage. Nothing is more frustrating than sitting through Brahms’ Concerto for Piano and cellophane wrapper.
I think there are a lot of people out there who aren’t familiar with the symphony that would actually go into one with an open mind. They may not be regular season subscribers, but at least it’s possible to get them in the door. I don’t think it’s a lost cause at all. I think that for the most part (myself included on occasion), it’s those that have the deepest appreciation and understanding of the symphony are those that have the most reservations about its future. Let’s leave the negative “In my day” type mentalities for the so-called “grey hairs”. We’re too young for that.
I’m sort of jumping in late here- so apologies if this was discussed.
What is the CSO’s yearly operating budget?
Currently stands at $12MM. Trying to get around $9MM, if my memory serves me correctly.
.
“I only hit you because I love you” ?
Yep, my negativity on CU or in general is what has depressed ticket sales and made the orchestratra “on the brink.” Did you notice the thread title? It is not about fluffy bunnies. It is about something approaching an autopsy. I am the (jumping the gun, I’ll grant and hope) coroner.
Did you notice that I also made a very positive suggestion to Walker and those of us w/ CSO hook-ups?
I am also negative because I am tired of the classical music industry’s constant bitching and whining. We have been going through this same drama for a generation now, across the board and not just Columbus. Each infusion of cash from a dead donor is like giving an addict one more hit of smack – it just makes the addict happy and lets him ignore the real problem.
I am really negative because I see the logical progression to a classical music ensemble having nothing left of “classical” in it, being all about the Pops and Popcorn. I’d rather see it die.
Staying in our little sandbox here, what are you doing positive? I posted bullish comments on the performance of the Ninth. Alas, travel has prevented me from going to the other concerts I wanted to, but I will post at least a small review when I do. No one followed up. Have you or any of the others posted same? Aside from the video game music concert, there has been nothing specific to particular CSO concerts.
A.
PS – Here is my positive suggestion for the day : The CSO should create the 43215 Outreach. Work with the developers and give 2 symphony tickets to everyone who buys/rents the new residential properties in the inner downtown. Promote that fact you can walk to it. “Stroll to Strauss.” “Lope to Lizst.” “Shuffle to Schoenberg.” “Mosey to Mozart.”
In my experience, it seems like plenty of folks are pushing the dress code envelope to relax it somewhat, simply by going and NOT wearing the standard — I’ve seen a fair share of jeans, people without jackets, etc. Most still look somewhat nice, and they don’t seem to be getting chastised or chased out by the ushers… It’s possible they’re getting some dirty looks, or that some are turning their nose up at them, but they’re still there…
It seems to me that CSO & classical music in general IS trying quite a few things to adapt to the times — Pops performances, theme nights, guest musicians, etc. Just that these changes either don’t meet with the approval of the critics, or (more to the bottom line) still aren’t enough to fix the underlying problems.
I know that WOSU has made some recent changes.
I imagine the CSO has some of the same problems as WOSU 89.7 FM does. From that article:
Ok, not much you can do about changing the past. Noted. Move on and forget it.
WOSU is doing some good stuff recently with the Social Media Cafe, twittering, etc. They are getting integrated. CSO should do the same.
CSO should stream concerts online. If they are… they should figure out a way to let people like me know that. Why not a virtual Symphony? It happens live, streams online, people are twittering it, etc.
Options are good. More options are better. Not sure how you apply that to CSO, but it is something to think about.
I’d love to see the CSO represented in some way at Agora. While with that show we have done a good job representing more of the emerging arts scene, we could do great things by bridging the gap between emerging artists and established Arts institutions.
I know I want to see CSO succeed.
And, finally, just publishing that- engaging people via communication is great. This is what WOSU is doing here- making a partner out of its audience.
i’m a music lover and CSO ticket holder, and I was deeply saddened by the news of the proposed budget cuts. i can’t offer any miracle fix, but i really hope that whatever changes do occur don’t damage the quality and image of the CSO. i didn’t attend this last weekend, but i was there a few weeks ago, and the orchestra and especially the guest violinist were fantastic. i played the bassoon during grade school and hs, so perhaps that means i can appreciate the performance more than some others, but i have a hard time believing that we don’t have many more columbusites who would be moved by the music.
on the dress note…i don’t wear suits or ties to performances (maybe the occassional sport coat), and i may have drawn a stare for one of the “fuddy-duddies”, but who cares. go, enjoy the music, and make an evening of it. whenever i go, i try to find a nice meal before or after. it just makes for a nice break from everything else.
p.s. i did like the idea of the CSO promoting dinner before or after (might even get kickbacks from restaurants) and some kind of post concert gathering/meet & greet.
To be clear – I agree with that sentiment and I hope it is universal. I do think that some people are put off by the notion that you have to dress up. On a whole ‘nother (and private) site, I’ve had a tiff about this very matter.
Hey Walker and TB…! How about Sunday Apr 20 for the meet-up and CSO mixer? They are running a survey online for people to vote their fav pieces and have them performed. Be a really good one and good time for this.
Linkie here
I voted for Wagner’s Overture to Tannhauser and Mussorgsky’s Gudonov. Neither will win, but that’s cool.
A.
To be clear – I agree with that sentiment and I hope it is universal. I do think that some people are put off by the notion that you have to dress up. On a whole ‘nother (and private) site, I’ve had a tiff about this very matter.
Hey Walker and TB…! How about Sunday Apr 20 for the meet-up and CSO mixer? They are running a survey online for people to vote their fav pieces and have them performed. Be a really good one and good time for this.
Linkie here
I voted for Wagner’s Overture to Tannhauser and Mussorgsky’s Gudonov. Neither will win, but that’s cool.
A.
First off, nice votes. :) I think that’s going to be a successful weekend for the symphony.
Great idea, especially the Sunday performance. Sundays are always less frequented, so a healthy group would be wonderful.
There are some issues right now in the marketing/box office department (LOTS of turnover in the past 6 weeks), so a group will need some special care. Luckily, I used to be the CSO’s group sales manager. Unfortunately, they haven’t hired my replacement. I need to hear back from Walker about what he thinks, but I’ll see what can be done in the meantime. :D
Assuming anyone buys tickets …
Oh dear, time to be negative again. I tried to purchase tickets for the 4/20 show since I want to go regardless of what get voted in or what we do here. Can’t do it. It doesn’t show up on the calendar or for ticket purchase.
Yutzes.
A.
I’m wearing shorts, sandals, and an Hawaiian shirt if there is a CSO/CU event.
I also voted for Russians. Shosty 5 (first symphony I ever played in full) and Gudonov…I saw Boris performed in St. Petersburg this summer :)
Sunday, February 3, 2008
BY TIM FERAN AND MICHAEL GROSSBERG
If the Columbus Symphony — facing a $1.5 million deficit after a record deficit of $2.2 million the previous season — were cut from 53 to 31 full-time players and its number of performances were reduced, the lives of musicians would change.
Some could continue as full-time players, while others might be engaged on a per-concert basis only.
The downsizing proposal by the symphony board and management will be discussed between now and the end of August, when the musicians’ contract expires.
READ MORE
Not to be cheezy, but that article makes me sad for dropping my performance degree. Music is in the souls of those performers. I’ve kind of been wondering about the actual musicians since I first saw the news on this thread. It makes me think of my brother – a trumpet student at a conservatory, and of my years playing in an orchestra. You never want to think about the bills, or the budget, or conflicting schedules. You just want to play with 50 other people on a stage. Hard to come by for an amateur like me these days – but for the orchestra members, this is their entire life.
I need to get me some tickets.
Glad Walker pulled this up again as I was too lazy.
On Sirius’ Symphony channel, the host was talking about new recordings from the symphonies in Louisville, Nashville and Raleigh-Durham. Does the CSO have/had anything like this in the works?
Why do these symphonies rate being noticed in this regard? Never heard of any of ‘em, though I am sure they are competent. I have to figure than anything Louisville can do, we can do better though.
A.
Joel Riley is talking about this right now on 610 radio. You can listen online at http://www.610wtvn.com I haven’t called in yet, but most of the callers are sticking up for the symphony. I wonder how many of those people buy tickets.
And there’s an article in today’s Dispatch about this very topic (maybe worthy of its own thread??). I’ve kinda been following the attendant Dispatch poll, which, as you might have guessed, is split almost 50-50 between those who support the arts no matter what and those who just don’t believe in taxes.
I’m curious: how do the Indie Art proponents feel about all the $upport needed to bail out these stodgy old institutions? Should some of these dinosaurs be retired to make way for new artists and new institutions?
There’s a Facebook group in support of the Columbus Symphony. Apparently, there’s a benefit tomorrow night. It sounds like all the proceeds are going to the musicians. Not sure how I feel about that…
“Hello fellow Proud Supporters of the Columbus Symphony!
I just wanted to write a brief note to all of the members of this Facebook group to announce that there is a benefit concert this Wednesday evening called “S.O.S.- Save Our Symphony!” concert at the Ohio State University School of Music’s Weigel Hall at 8pm. This is a chamber concert and this concert has no admission, although donations are HIGHLY ENCOURAGED!!
The Brothers and Sisters of PMA, SAI, KKY, and TBS are hosting this event and all donations will go to the musicians of the Columbus Symphony. They would like this event to be a success and are asking that you all make room in your busy schedules to come out and support the CSO, and perhaps even to donate to the cause! Please invite all of your family and friends for a night of some great music!
Go to the link below to read more and RSVP for the event:
http://osu.facebook.com/event.php?eid=8003737021
Reminder: blog address with the latest news:
http://www.proudsupportersofthecolumbussymphony.blogspot.com
Thanks once again for your support of the Columbus Symphony!!”