Buzzing Reed- Classical Music & Clarinet Culture

Funny. When I came to Columbus 20 years ago, I left a job which had a 25 week season. Now I’m back to that. Full circle. Too bad my age can’t rewind to such a nice youthful number!

From the New York Times Arts Beat Blog-
Columbus Symphony makes Severe Cutbacks

From the Columbus Dispatch-

Symphony musicians accept another cut in pay
Friday,  March 5, 2010 3:40 AM
By Jeffrey Sheban
THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH
To help keep the financially strapped Columbus Symphony afloat, musicians have agreed to wage concessions worth $1.1 million this year and next.
As part of a restructuring announced yesterday, the symphony also said it wants to combine administrative functions with those of the Columbus Association for the Performing Arts, potentially eliminating as many as 18 symphony staff positions and saving an additional $500,000 annually.
The moves are intended to reduce expenses in the 2010-11 season to $7.5 million – down from $9 million this season – and help chip away at an estimated $500,000 deficit in the current fiscal year, which ends Aug. 31.
“It’s bitter medicine that is necessary for the Columbus Symphony to turn the corner and revitalize itself,” said Roland Valliere, president and chief executive officer.

Musicians voted last weekend to revise their contract, which runs through the 2010-11 season. Forty-six full-time members agreed to give up two weeks of paid vacation time this year, for a savings of $120,000, while accepting a 23 percent pay cut in the fiscal year starting Sept. 1, saving the orchestra $1 million.
“They showed us all their financials, and the orchestra was out of cash,” said Douglas J. Fisher, president of the musicians union and a bassoonist with the orchestra. He called the concessions “painful but necessary.”
The latest giveback reduces the annual salary of most musicians to about $35,000, down from the current $45,000 and the previous year’s $55,000. Principal players can earn up to 20 percent more.
“Obviously, everyone is very upset at the prospect of these cuts,” Fisher said. “But it’s just what we have to do to survive this economic downturn.”
For the 2010-11 season, the revised contract with musicians will eliminate three weeks of paid vacation, five weeks of contracted-service concerts with BalletMet Columbus and Opera Columbus (which don’t turn a profit for the symphony), and five weeks of special-engagement concerts throughout the year.
Valliere said musicians will be allowed to negotiate directly with the ballet and opera for work accompanying performances, including The Nutcracker.
The revised contract preserves all pops and Classical Series concerts this season and next, and the outdoor Picnic With the Pops concerts in the summer.
“From the public’s point of view, they’ll be able to enjoy the symphony as much next year as this year,” Valliere said.
Meanwhile, talks have been under way for several weeks to let CAPA handle finance, marketing, development and concert production for the orchestra. Administrators and board members from both organizations would like to reach an agreement quickly, Valliere said.
“At this important time, we are exploring ways for CAPA to leverage its resources and offer assistance to the symphony,” Bill Conner, CAPA’s president, said in a statement. “We all want to help (the orchestra) achieve a stable and sustainable future.”
In Columbus, CAPA owns and operates the Ohio, Palace and Southern theaters, and manages the Riffe Center and Lincoln theaters. Conner was unavailable for further comment yesterday.
In recent years, CAPA has taken on administrative duties for the Franklin Park Conservatory, Contemporary American Theatre Company, Phoenix Theatre for Children and Opera Columbus.
Armed with the orchestra’s latest cost-cutting plans, Valliere and board chairman Martin Inglis will be calling on corporate donors to help close the current-season budget gap, which last month reached as high as $1.5million.
Thanks mainly to individual donors, the orchestra has raised more than half of the funds needed to meet a $100,000 challenge grant put up by an anonymous supporter.
If and when the bleeding stops, Valliere will get busy implementing his vision for the orchestra’s future, which includes a new music director and new revenue from podcasts, music downloads and video performances on demand.
“You can’t succeed if you don’t survive,” he said. “The notion is to build forward from here, so we can get to the point of success.”

“The mission of the Columbus Symphony is to develop and foster the art of orchestral music at the highest possible artistic level. Through its concerts, outreach, and educational activities, it is a community resource that is a major component of the quality of life in Central Ohio.” -From the Columbus Symphony Management Strategic Plan

“…The board, musicians and community must work together (because) Columbus deserves and needs this orchestra,” -Anne Melvin, Columbus Symphony Trustee, Columbus Dispatch, 1/18/08

“The foundation of the ARTS in Columbus is the Symphony. It’s the treasure that supports the Opera, the Ballet, and educational programs for children in the public schools.” -Joann Foucht, Women’s Association of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Dispatch, 1/28/08

“Last night’s brilliant performance by this maestro and this orchestra made believers out of everyone: The Hirokami Era has begun.” -Barbara Zuck, Columbus Dispatch

“…In six years I can make this orchestra one of the best.” -Junichi Hirokami, NY Times, 4/12/08

“…Business leaders and artists throughout the nation (are) watching Columbus. They… hope to see a demonstration of confidence in the future of this city.” -Bruce Ridge, Chair, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) Letter to Editor, Columbus Dispatch, 2/6/08

To the Citizens and Leadership of Columbus-

The world is watching Columbus as the Symphony Board of Trustees and Management request large cuts from an orchestra whose members are performing with world class quality. The orchestra took 11% pay cuts three years ago, now restored, to help shore up sagging financial support following a lengthy period without an Artistic or Executive Director. Better results were promised. Now management insists on 40% salary cuts to stabilize the organization.

A gem of cultural pride, loved by Columbus audiences, the Symphony as we know it would not survive these cuts.

The people of Greater Columbus Community know and appreciate the exemplary quality of the Symphony. A flood of supportive letters to the Dispatch has demonstrated this. Our fine Orchestra contributes to the vitality of downtown, both economically and culturally. Thousands of people attend regular concerts, enriched by the unique experience of live classical music. Thousands more benefit from the outreach and education fostered by the members of the Symphony.

In the past decade, total non-musician expenses have increased an average of 7% per year, while total musician expenses increased only 4% per year. In fact, the percentage for musician costs actually went down from 47% of the total budget in the ‘99-’00 season to 39% in ‘05-’06. Musician costs for the ‘06-’07 season were around 42%, at the low end of the national average of 40-50%. (*-source footnote)

The current total musician expenses amount to about $5.4 million out of a $12.4 million budget.* Why not maintain the heart of the orchestra, its musicians, and create a satisfactory budget built on that? Untapped gold mines of volunteers are eager to help. Grassroots organizations can generate untold support and revenue. Several burgeoning efforts are already proving their value. As a community let’s move into action and make it happen.

The Greater Columbus Community accomplishes great things with the right leadership. We all need to step forward and rescue this gem for our city.

“Across the country, exciting things are happening for symphony orchestras. …attendance is up, downloads are rising faster than for any other musical genre, …and the New York Times is proclaiming that this could be “the Golden Age for Classical Music.” - Bruce Ridge, Chair, ICSOM

I encourage you to be a part of the exciting things that are happening for symphony orchestras. Together we can make this happen.

Respectfully,
David H Thomas
Principal Clarinet
Columbus Symphony Orchestra

“I still want to believe there’s a solution out there.” Tony Beadle, Executive Director, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dispatch, 3/14/08

(* Sources- Total income and expense figures from audit reports provided by the CSO; Total musician expense figures from expense statements provided by the CSO)