I write these words as I finish the first month of my presidency. My primary focus for running was rebuilding the trust of the membership and renewing the culture of this great union.

Dear family, I would like to give an accounting of what I have found thus far.

The first thing I noticed was a sense of tectonic forces in motion. These started as far back as December, as I enjoyed the last days of my performing career. Not focused, these forces felt like the gentle wave that moves you in an eddy. Gentle, yet powerful.

Week one was still very much the honeymoon period. It began with the honor of awarding the winner of the New York City Ballet Orchestra fantasy football league (see photo above — the winner pictured in yellow was guest violinist Brian Fox). The ceremony took place during intermission of a Saturday matinee performance of The Nutcracker, and I was permitted to sit in the pit for the first half of the ballet. The beauty of the ensemble playing literally brought tears to my eyes. The incredible number of incredible musicians with incredible musicianship is something I have never experienced in the commercial theatre world, where 18 is considered a sizable orchestra, with the vast majority of “instruments” having been programmed into a computer synchronized to a click track.

In my very first week, I also had the honor of attending the AFM TV Videotape negotiations with the three major broadcasting networks Tuesday through Thursday followed by the Recording Musicians Association (RMA) conference. (one of five AFM recognized player conferences along with ICSOM, OCSM, ROPA, and TMA). RMA met on Friday and Saturday, also at the AFM. However, the whole week I had the nagging feeling that I needed to be at our office to try and stay ahead of who knows what would come next. For example, on day one (the day our administration was sworn in by President Gagliardi at the AFM — see photo), there were 90 emails to be addressed. Many required reading an entire thread sometimes dating back over a year. In addition to learning passwords and being forced to re-enter them every 10 minutes if stepping away from my needy computer.

My solution was to bookend AFM duties with morning and evening sets at the local. It was the beginning of over 12-hour long days that have continued ever since. Additionally, week one’s calendar included a Theatre Committee meeting, a first meeting with new leadership at NYC Opera at Proskauer (basically, an attorney factory, located at 41st and 8th), and a quite lovely meet-and-greet with the Met Orchestra Committee.

Saturday, after RMA ended, was spent in my quiet office playing catch-up, then playing long tones on the horn.

Week two, the honeymoon ended. Monday began innocently enough. The first of two 8am meetings with 802’s controller for an education and first look at the budget, balance sheet and profit/loss. More on our finances later.

This was followed by a weekly standing Building Project meeting. (In this issue of Allegro, please see Executive Board member Sara Cutler’s in-depth update on the status of our building renovation project.)

Next up was studying 802’s upcoming new member orientation, and an in-person meeting with Executive Board member Andrew Bove, who has a brilliant mind and excellent long-range vision. He is one of nine board members (plus two vice presidents) with whom I am truly blessed.

Then, from left field, a hot potato landed in my lap. It was a true test of problem solving. I’m happy to report that, with numerous meetings throughout the week including Saturday, I have a firm grasp on how to move forward as this issue plays out. I thank our team members involved with crafting 802’s position.

Tuesday began with two excellent presentations by longtime 802 legal counsel Susan Davis, from Cohen Weiss and Simon, who graciously allowed the board to meet in person in their conference room.

Wednesday featured another excellent presentation, this time by 802 Musicians Health Fund co-counsel Zachary Leeds and Executive Board member Martha Hyde. As president of Local 802, I sit as co-chair of the Health Fund Trustees. The Health Fund Trustees will meet later this week for the first time during my tenure.

Next, a second hot potato dropped from left field. This one was every bit as intricate as the first, and frankly, it spurred vigorous discussion at the latest board meeting. I cannot begin to tell you the value of 802’s Executive Board. They are all talented, deep-thinking souls.

The second week rounded out with more finance education, more building meetings and an introductory meeting with Met management and musicians along with the orchestra committee’s designated legal counsel, Willig, Williams, and Davidson from Philadelphia. I am thrilled to report renewed enthusiasm and solidarity among members of the Met orchestra committee, legal counsel, and Local 802. Despite naysayers (remember the earlier mentioned tectonic forces?), optimism has never been higher as we go into these historically complicated negotiations. No further dates have been scheduled.

Friday finished on a high as I met with Met Associate Musicians’ leaders Joanna Maurer and Dean LeBlanc. Aside from also preparing for their upcoming negotiations, Met Associates are in the middle of a grievance for payment due to them for their work on the Met’s long running series, Saturday Matinee Broadcasts.

Week three to date. Only three meetings during the MLK holiday, the highlight by far being Local 802’s newest Met bargaining unit negotiating their first contract, the Met Title Callers. The work they do is amazing, creative, and as much as part of the Met Opera experience as the music and staging. Imagine how diminished the audience experience would be without the libretto (translated) flowing by on seatbacks during the performance. Synced to the score, these Callers, in real time, provide an experience the vast majority of the audience relies on heavily. However, much like pit musicians, their work is masked and underappreciated. Like wallpaper, it goes unnoticed until it goes missing.

Looking forward, I wonder what new escalations the future will bring.

As alluded to earlier, the financial condition of the institution I inherited is deplorable. Much like our building, with earlier administrations ignoring necessary maintenance to the point that we were forced into the current major overhaul, a most basic tenant of leadership: “stay close to the money” has been continually dismissed and abused. We have been spending money that we do not have.

As negotiations become more contentious, legal costs skyrocket. This is in a landscape of downward trending income. We receive fewer recording work dues every year as that industry continues to fragment. Shrinking ensembles on Broadway add to the downtrend. Simply put, the diverging trends of our industries shrinking and expenses skyrocketing paint a dismal financial picture. We must enter a period of austerity.

I am terribly sorry to be the bearer of such unwelcome news, but I promised to report on my findings as I work towards realizing my mission. It is important to shine the light on our financial health, and Financial Vice President Karen Fisher and I are exploring several options to right the ship.

I implore you to attend our general membership meeting Wednesday, Feb. 26 at 5pm on Zoom to further discuss, in detail, our plan moving forward. This will take effort from all of us, including officers, directors, and the membership. Click here to register for the Zoom link.

Finally, I only have one thing to say to doubters and naysayers. Do not mistake compassion for weakness.