The Charleston Symphony Orchestra has gone through some rough patches but seems stable now. Meanwhile, orchestras in Jacksonville, Columbus, Ohio, and Shreveport, La., have gone and are going through crises that should be closely watched by lovers of the CSO. We should watch them not out of fear of losing our orchestra due to historic change, but out of fear of losing our orchestra due to small-mindedness, political wrangling, patronizing attitudes, and petty (and potentially destructive) squabbles between management and labor. Losing an orchestra because culture and tradition change is one thing. Losing an orchestra because of stupidity is another. Fortunately, Jacksonville is on the mend now, but Columbus and Shreveport are on the brink. In the former, management might be crying wolf; in the latter, management seems to want more for less. Read on.
From the Columbus Dispatch:
Nearly broke and still short of solutions, the Columbus Symphony could fold as early as next month, the president of the symphony board says.
Although efforts to save central Ohio’s largest arts organization continue behind the scenes, Robert “Buzz” Trafford said the orchestra’s demise is possible if additional donations prove elusive.
“Without more help, there’s a very real risk that our money won’t take us beyond the next month or two,” Trafford said. “Our options would become extremely limited, including suspension of operations.”
A spokesman for the musicians downplayed talk of a shutdown. “We’ve heard the rumors,” said principal tuba player Jim Akins. “I find it difficult to believe. … It would be a terrible tragedy. The city would lose its soul.”
From The Shreveport Times:
The future of the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra remains hazy after seven months of contract negotiations between management and musicians and a $500,000 shortfall accumulated over six years.
Both groups released conflicting information in separate statements Friday.
Orchestra Players United of Shreveport-Bossier, comprised of the symphony musicians, released a statement claiming symphony management will eliminate all full-time playing positions within the orchestra starting Sunday.
The information is based on a letter from management, OPUS said, and will result in all 24 full-time positions, or core players, being converted to per-service positions. The effect, according to the musicians, would be a 75 percent decrease in annual salary of $12,683 per musician to $3,123.
Additionally, all full-time musicians will lose their $1,440 health supplement, OPUS said.
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