Posted September 18, 200717 yr Via The Downtown Columbus Weekly E-Alert: September 18, 2007 from www.downtowncolumbus.com . . . Columbus Symphony Week Join the Columbus Symphony Orchestra for a series of free outdoor concerts on the Statehouse lawn in honor of Symphony Week. This special event is a weeklong celebration of music in Central Ohio, featuring easy-to-listen-to favorites for music lovers of all ages. On Wednesday, Thursday and Friday, you are invited to bring a lunch and enjoy a variety of lively musical selections, from Billy Joel to Tchaikovsky, led by conductor Peter Stafford. Then on Sunday, music lovers of all ages can enjoy Symphony Day, with hourly shows by the symphony at the Ohio Theatre, a musical petting zoo, instrument demonstrations, meet the musicians and more! Location: The Statehouse Lawn; the Ohio Theatre Hours: September 19 - 21, 11:30am - 12:30pm; Sunday, September 23, 1 - 5:30pm Phone: 614-228-9600 Admission: Free http://www.columbussymphony.com ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
April 28, 200817 yr Symphony musicians reject contract offer Business First of Columbus Friday, April 25, 2008 Columbus Symphony Orchestra musicians said Friday they roundly rejected a new contract offer they say calls for a 40 percent across-the-board salary cut. The Central Ohio Federation of Musicians in a statement said orchestra members Thursday night voted unanimously to reject a "final offer" from the orchestra's board for a contract that would be in place for the 2008-09 season. The federation said the contract would cut the $55,000 minimum annual salary for its 53 full-time musicians to $33,000, without future restoration. The symphony's board in a statement dismissed claims that discussions can't continue in light of the union's response, but said "the ability to complete the current season would very likely depend upon being able to reach an agreement with respect to a contract for next season." The musicians' union in January spoke out against a board proposal to cut 22 musicians and impose a 30 percent salary and benefits cut on the rest by cutting 12 weeks from next season. It said the board rejected proposals from the musicians to hire an outside consultant during contract negotiations and impose a 6.5 percent salary cut. Read more at http://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/stories/2008/04/21/daily35.html?ana=from_rss
April 29, 200817 yr Gift will keep symphony afloat Monday, April 28, 2008 - 8:38 PM THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH An “extraordinary” individual gift will allow the Columbus Symphony to finish its current season, the board announced tonight. Without the donation, the symphony would have closed Wednesday, said board President Robert “ Buzz” Trafford. The gift allows the symphony to proceed with the seven remaining performances, capped by two shows with Marvin Hamlisch May 30 and 31. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/04/28/symphonygift.html?sid=101
May 8, 200817 yr Symphony will shut down for summer with future in doubt Picnic with the Pops series canceled Thursday, May 8, 2008, 5:26 PM By Jeffrey Sheban, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Citing a lack of funds, the Columbus Symphony plans to shut down June 1 and will not perform its Picnic with the Pops and Popcorn Pops summer series, the board said today. The upcoming indoor season, which starts in October, also is in doubt, the board said in a statement. The board and musicians are deadlocked over the future of the orchestra, with the debate hinging on how large of an orchestra Columbus can support. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/08/symphony.html?sid=101
May 9, 200817 yr That's really unfortunate. Every major city should have it's own Symphony and Pops Orchestras.
May 12, 200817 yr From here: http://walker.columbusunderground.com/?p=630 <img src="http://walker.columbusunderground.com/wp-content/uploads/2008/05/symphony1_200.jpg"> <b>CSO’s closure won’t have much of an impact on Columbus</b> Posted on May 12th, 2008 As you’ve probably read by now, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra is halting their operations as of June 1st due mostly to financial troubles. It seems like everyone is really quick to say that they’re sad to see the CSO disappearing, but also quick to admit that they rarely attend the symphony’s events. Personally, I’ve enjoyed myself at the CSO during the few times I’ve been, but I can’t say what it would take to get me to become a regular supporter right now. Does this mean that the symphony will become non-existent in Columbus as of 2008? Hardly. If we look to the south at the city of Miami, who lost their symphony in 2003, they’ve had plenty to help fill in the gaps over the past five years. Traveling orchestras come through town on a regular basis, and smaller groups have emerged to continue to perform classical pieces. In 2006 they even saw the birth of a lightweight version of their previous orchestra (about half the size) that was mostly made up of members of their previously disbanded group. The same thing is very likely to happen here in Columbus. We should see this as the evolution of this artform and not necessarily the end of the symphony or a drop in culture from our city. The best way for the CSO to stay relevant in Columbus is to shut down and regroup into something that is more sustainable moving forward.
May 12, 200817 yr I've been chatting with people in the arts and this has been seen as a massive black eye. If a city this size can't support an orchestra then what comes next. We constantly chat about attracting and developing a vibrant arts scene. The city symphony orchestra actually spreads itself throughout the community as the players often teach lessons and serve on the faculty at various universities. The Miami/Newport News model is seen as having about as much street cred as the Broadway series.
May 13, 200817 yr Paul Bonneville posted an interesting take on the Columbus Symphony situation on his Columbus Retro Metro blog. I'll just post the first paragraph here and you can read the rest at his site http://columbusretrometro.typepad.com/columbus_retrometro/2008/05/arts-culture-at.html. After all, he's got advertisers too. http://columbusretrometro.typepad.com/columbus_retrometro/2008/05/arts-culture-at.html wrote: "Arts & Culture at the Core" "Is the plight of the Columbus Symphony and its budget shortfalls and troubled musician contract negotiations an indicator of a greater problem for the traditional and established arts & cultural institutions we have in Columbus? Is the symphony just the tip of the iceberg with regards to arts organizations having more and more difficult times trying to stay afloat without heavy subsidization?" And in the comment section there a reply from the Managing Director for a downtown theatre called MadLab. Another good point.
May 17, 200817 yr Waiting for an encore Music director hopes he hasn't left the symphony -- and the city -- for good Saturday, May 17, 2008 - 3:23 AM By Jeffrey Sheban THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Like any good conductor, Junichi Hirokami knows the score: In life, as in music, lows follow the highs. Such was his fate early yesterday. Hours after leading the Columbus Symphony and renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma in a classical-season finale, Hirokami sat alone on a steel bench at Port Columbus, waiting to return to his native Japan. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/17/~0_HIROKAMI_--_live_story.ART_ART_05-17-08_A1_T8A7P5M.html?sid=101
May 21, 200817 yr Symphony musicians propose salary cut Head of board reacts to $500,000 offer by vowing to restart talks Wednesday, May 21, 2008 - 3:11 AM By Jeffrey Sheban, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH After a monthlong stalemate, the Columbus Symphony board of trustees wants to resume contract talks with its musicians. Hours after symphony musicians held a news conference yesterday and offered to give up $500,000 in salary -- about 6.5 percent of their pay -- board President Robert "Buzz" Trafford said he would contact the musicians union about scheduling the first talks since April. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/21/MUSICIANS_PLAN.ART_ART_05-21-08_B1_CLA8QD1.html?sid=101
May 28, 200817 yr Symphony's pain hurts others Sunday, May 25, 2008 - 9:41 PM By Jeffrey Sheban THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Musicians and other employees of the Columbus Symphony won't be the only ones suffering financially if the next orchestral season is canceled. The operator of the Ohio Theatre could be out $800,000 if the symphony bypasses its 2008-09 season, which normally runs for 26 weeks starting in October. CAPA, which operates the Ohio, Palace, Southern and other theaters in Columbus and Connecticut, is already owed $375,000 by the symphony for theater rent and office space for the current season, which ends Saturday. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/05/25/capa.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
June 21, 200816 yr Any update on this? I'm wondering when the deadline is for canceling the season or moving forward.
June 21, 200816 yr Are the CSO musicians full-time or do they have to supplement their salaries by taking other jobs? ---edit--- I see that they are full-time positions.
June 25, 200816 yr This is a disgrace. I've read several stories about this in the New York Times. I remember going to the Columbus Symphony back in the 70’s when Evan Whallon (anyone remember him?) was the “conductor”and it was considered a joke. The OSU symphony orchestra actually sounded better! So it’s doubly tragic—now that it is respected in the industry--that the Columbus Symphony is facing disbandment. Not that one person should be responsible for the solvency of a major arts group, but can’t Les Wexner (of all people) deign to throw a couple of million to the symphony as a temporary measure (or at least match other contributions) to stave off this crisis. Geez, what the hell is he going to do with his billions anyway?! http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
June 26, 200816 yr Geez, what the hell is he going to do with his billions anyway?! Start the Easton Symphony Orchestra.
June 27, 200816 yr Yes, with the Berenstain Bears and Showbiz Pizza's rejects at helm of Easton's glorious Palace @ Crate & Barrel. "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
June 27, 200816 yr Easton's glorious Palace @ Crate & Barrel. The Palace @ Crate & Barrel is Easton's MoMA, remember? No, the symphony shall be housed at the Easton Hall of Music @ Pottery Barn, due to its superior acoustics and ample surface parking.
June 27, 200816 yr Hey, our MoMA rocks! "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
July 5, 200816 yr Musicians to hold own version of summer pops Columbus Symphony labor talks resume Monday Thursday, July 3, 2008 - 9:31 PM By Jeffrey Sheban, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Central Ohioans will get a chance to picnic with the pops this summer after all. Seeking to fill the void left by the cancellation of the Columbus Symphony's outdoor summer concerts, orchestra musicians will hold two pops concerts next week. The self-produced concerts will be next Friday in Dublin (outdoors) and July 12 Downtown (indoors). Proceeds will benefit symphony musicians, who have been without pay and benefits since June. The symphony's board of trustees suspended operations June 1 amid projected budget deficits and canceled the popular summer pops series. For more information, visit www.MCSConcerts.org. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/07/03/symphony_outdoors.html?type=rss&cat=&sid=101
July 25, 200816 yr Contract dispute Symphony talks stall; 10 shows canceled Thursday, July 24, 2008 By Jeffrey Sheban, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH For the first time in more than a half-century, the Columbus Symphony will fail to open its classical season in the fall. With contract talks with musicians going nowhere, Columbus Symphony management said yesterday that the 2008-09 classical concert season won't begin as usual in October, and that at least 10 performances through early December have been canceled. "The Columbus Symphony Orchestra announces with regret that it is canceling all concerts previously scheduled for October and November," the symphony said in a statement. Read more at http://www.columbusdispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/07/24/NO_CONCERTS_PRINT_VERSION.ART_ART_07-24-08_B1_L7AR43H.html?sid=101
August 2, 200816 yr Loss of orchestra would be a major blemish on Ohio's capital city -- Donald Rosenberg commentary by Donald Rosenberg / Plain Dealer Music Critic Friday August 01, 2008, 4:20 PM It must be a nervous weekend for music lovers in Columbus. Saturday night at Veterans Memorial Auditorium, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra and music director Junichi Hirokami will give the final concert of their summer season. http://www.cleveland.com/arts/index.ssf/2008/08/loss_of_orchestra_would_be_a_m.html
August 2, 200816 yr ^"The board is also miffed that the music director lives in Japan, not Columbus. In the real world, however, conductors spend only a portion of their year in the cities where they head an orchestra. But boards today seek music directors who, in addition to conducting, can schmooze with donors and raise money. Daniel Barenboim left the Chicago Symphony several years ago because he only wanted to be -- horror! -- an artist." Chicago also gained the world-class, and much sought after, Riccardo Muti as their next music director. What's happening in Columbus is a complete disgrace! http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
August 3, 200816 yr Volunteers, musicians work in sweet harmony Symphony's players get plenty of help, and need it, to stage summer concerts without a hall, sheet music Saturday, August 2, 2008 - 3:08 AM By Amy Saunders, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Faced with the prospect of living in a city without a symphony, Elizabeth Strautz felt she needed to help. Tonight, as she did a week ago, the longtime orchestra patron will greet concertgoers at Veterans Memorial for a fourth summer performance by the Columbus Symphony musicians. The concert is expected to sell out the 3,900-seat auditorium, said John Loree, the facility's general manager. Proceeds will go to the musicians, who haven't received a paycheck or health benefits since symphony managers suspended operations June 1. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/08/02/0_SYMPHONY_SETUP_--_timely.ART_ART_08-02-08_B1_9EATTII.html?sid=101
August 3, 200816 yr How many people here have donated to the CSO, or been to a show since they've started having such financial troubles? Just curious as to how many of the people who are complaining about losing them are actually doing something to try to fix the problem?
August 3, 200816 yr Obviously, not many. I think Ohio State needs to step in and take somewhat control (I don't know if there's interaction between the CSO and OSU's Music department, but there should be). "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 3, 200816 yr There should be interaction between the two, but OSU doesn't need to take control of the CSO. The CSO needs to disband so that a new group can form. Something smaller, more nible, more relevant, and with less management overhead.
August 3, 200816 yr I didn't mean total control, just some "push." "You don't just walk into a bar and mix it up by calling a girl fat" - buildingcincinnati speaking about new forumers
August 5, 200816 yr The CSO needs to disband so that a new group can form. Something smaller, more nible, more relevant, and with less management overhead. That might be right. CSO doesn't seem to lack public support in Columbus. But the CSO's labor vs. management dispute seems unworkable at this point. Maybe CSO's musicians could start a new orchestra with new management?
September 23, 200816 yr Columbus Symphony: Contract revives classical music 'Painful' compromise has musicians back for October opera opening Tuesday, September 23, 2008 - 3:17 AM By Jeffrey Sheban THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH The Columbus Symphony will take the stage in October after musicians and managers agreed late yesterday to a three-year contract. The votes by the orchestra's board of trustees and musicians ends an impasse that canceled the summer pops concerts and threatened the entire 2008-09 season. The contract retains 53 full-time musicians but reduces their pay, shortens the performance season and moves some concerts from the Ohio Theatre to Veterans Memorial Auditorium. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/23/0_ENCORE_--_breaking_story.ART_ART_09-23-08_A1_04BDE7K.html?sid=101
September 23, 200816 yr ^ Some further details from today's article Columbus Symphony: Contract revives classical music Contract highlights - Cuts the weeks in the symphony season from 46 to 38 - Keeps at 53 the number of full-time musicians - Reduces by 24 percent the average annual base salary for musicians (including reductions in the weekly base as well as the number of weeks paid) - Adjusts the health-care plan to save about 20 percent in insurance premiums Dates of note Oct. 15: Managers expect to release a revised 2008-09 schedule. Oct. 24 and 26: Performances resume, with the orchestra accompanying Opera Columbus for its season-opening production, The Pearl Fishers. Early December: Holiday Pops concerts take place. Dec. 12-23: Orchestra accompanies BalletMet Columbus for its production of The Nutcracker. Jan. 10: The abbreviated symphony season opens with a presentation of The Planets Suite by Gustav Holtz, with narration by John Glenn, the first American to orbit Earth. http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2008/09/23/0_ENCORE_--_breaking_story.ART_ART_09-23-08_A1_04BDE7K.html?sid=101
November 15, 200816 yr Another proud day for Columbus: http://www.nytimes.com/2008/11/15/arts/music/15arts-MUSICDIRECTO_BRF.html?ref=music Music Director Departs Columbus Symphony By DANIEL J. WAKIN; Compiled by DAVE ITZKOFF Published: November 14, 2008 The writing was on the wall when Junichi Hirokami the music director of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, called the orchestra’s board and management “stupid people.” That was back in May, when orchestra officials said the symphony was running out of money and would probably close up shop. Mr. Hirokami chastised the board for not doing enough to raise money. “I don’t care if they fire me,” he said at the time. Well, the orchestra announced on Thursday that Mr. Hirokami would be moving on, calling it a mutual decision. The orchestra is still in business, after it reduced its season, and the musicians accepted a pay cut. Martin Inglis, the chairman of the orchestra’s board, said a search for a replacement was under way. http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
November 15, 200816 yr Another proud day for Columbus: Get over your anti-Columbus feelings e-v-don. Why should this be a surprise? You call your employer stupid, you'll probably get fired.
November 16, 200816 yr Many had been complaining about the high costs of a music director who doesn't even live in the country. Perhaps we can find someone a little more local. ;)
November 18, 200816 yr Another proud day for Columbus: Get over your anti-Columbus feelings e-v-don. Why should this be a surprise? You call your employer stupid, you'll probably get fired. what are you talking about? I love Columbus, and when I lived there a hundred years ago I attended many performances of the Columbus Symphony, when it was a complete mediocrity. Much of the attraction back then was just to be able to enjoy the surroundings of the Ohio Theater with its excellent acoustics (where I also saw—in performance with the Col’s Sym--many well-known guest artists—Beverly Sills, Van Cliburn, Alicia de Larocha, probably the best Spanish classical pianist living, plus many road company productions of Broadway plays. Likewise at Mershon Auditorium I heard Pavarotti, but am still kicking myself for missing a rare appearance by the great Vladimir Horowitz!). But when I read in recent years that the orchestra itself was actually developing a national reputation it was reason to believe that Columbus was in fact becoming the big city it had always aspired to. The fact that the people who live there—people in power—don’t seem to appreciate what it takes to develop and maintain a high quality orchestra is a sad statement. First class symphony conductors are few and far between. Major orchestras (both here and abroad) are killing each other to find replacements among a very limited pool of talent, and although I don’t know too much about Hirokami, he improved the orchestra’s performance, by all accounts, to a level unheard (of) ever in the history of the Columbus Symphony. Given what happened I doubt Columbus will ever be able to attract someone of the same caliber, at least not in the near future. It's a shame, because the people who really lost are classical music fans without deep pockets who finally had an orchestra to be proud of. Not to worry, there are plenty of other diversions in Cowtown. Go Bucks! :drunk: http://www.mainstreetpainesville.org/
November 18, 200816 yr They can still go two hours in either direction to see world class symphony, though.
February 14, 200916 yr Columbus Symphony's executive director leaving Tony Beadle will depart no later than Aug. 31 Thursday, February 12, 2009 - 2:05 PM By Jeffrey Sheban, THE COLUMBUS DISPATCH Musical chairs have claimed another leader of the Columbus Symphony. Already looking for a music director to replace Junichi Hirokami -- let go in November with a year on his contract -- the orchestra has started searching for a new executive director. Orchestra officials said today that "by mutual agreement" the contract of Tony Beadle would be allowed to expire Aug. 31. Beadle, 56, who is paid about $160,000 annually, joined the symphony in June 2006 after seven years as manager of the Boston Pops Orchestra. He presided over a financial crisis and labor dispute that shut down the orchestra for five months last year. Read more at http://www.dispatch.com/live/content/local_news/stories/2009/02/12/beadle.html?sid=101
February 14, 200916 yr We can build a new Lifestyle Centre every three years but we can't sustain a symphony. This is discouraging.
February 15, 200916 yr Who's "we" and "we"? Yes, private developers (we?) can build lifestyle centers with private dollars. As for supporting the CSO, that is up to us (we!) to attend events to support the symphony. You make it sound as if all money, public, private, or otherwise is just in some great big pot to be distributed to anything or anyone. That only happens with SimCity.
February 19, 200916 yr "I" do support the CSO. As for the general population of Columbus ("we"), the demand for consumer culture is greater than for the other kind. Thanks for the lesson in economics by the way. You are so very generous.
February 20, 200916 yr Purchasing tickets for a CSO event isn't "consuming"? ;) I think I agree with what you're trying to say, but the "I'm doing what's right but everybody else pretty much sucks" approach isn't the most tactful way to convince people that something needs to change.
February 20, 200916 yr You're right: maybe the CSO just isn't a very good product. Cheesecake Factory it is.
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