This letter was posted, apparently anonymously, on Symphony Strong.
Concerning the difficulties the CSO has had with the board- In England the London Symphony Orchestra, one of the great ones of the world, was started in the 20’s or so as an orchestra owned and managed by the musicians themselves. They have a manager, but this person is also a musician with the orchestra itself. (Last notable one was Clive Gillinson, a cellist with the LSO, now manager of Carnegie Hall). Couldn’t this be a model the CSO could at least try, as they have already demonstrated their ability to put together a credible budget plan? Much of the “dead wood” (my opinion only) upstairs in the management dept. would be eliminated, and the musicians would be able to control their own fate, although they might not have the income that they have now…Check it out, CSO, we need you
