Allegro
Currently Browsing: December, 2013
New Mayor, New Vision
President's Report
We have a new mayor here in NYC, and I’d like to thank all of the Local 802 members and staff who helped support Bill de Blasio. We were an early endorser of Bill’s campaign, and we did so because
Copyright, activism, and making a living in the age of streaming
Future of Music Summit 2013
Now in its 12th year, the Future of Music Coalition recently convened its annual summit on the scenic Georgetown University campus in Washington, D.C. The two-day conference brought together people from all walks of the music industry for interviews, workshops
Harry Belafonte endorses union’s jazz campaign
Harry Belafonte, one of the nation’s most prominent performers and social activists, has announced his endorsement of Local 802’s Justice for Jazz Artists campaign. Belafonte’s endorsement caps off a week which saw tremendous growth in support from notable figures
Getting creative with new actions
They’ve played, marched, picketed and demonstrated, but recently, musicians and activists have taken the Justice for Jazz Artists campaign to some creative new places. On Oct. 25, jazz campaign supporters visited Blue Smoke, the upstairs barbeque restaurant that shares a
Justice for Jazz Artists
Photo Spread
Justice for Jazz Artists coordinated another successful event on Nov. 6 at St. Peter’s Church. The “Battle of the Saxes” was designed to raise awareness around the challenges faced by older jazz musicians. The concert featured instrumental soloists Patience Higgins
Groove Masters
Music education is more than giving weekly lessons, teaching a theory class, or working with a high school band. It is about instilling passion, excitement, and wonder at the many genres and styles of music, and then nurturing the
Gambling with our future
Is supporting corporate casinos really in our interest?
If a referendum were put on the ballot to place a toxic waste dump in the middle of Manhattan, would the New York State AFL-CIO support it on the pretext that it would create union jobs? I doubt it. And
Shining a light
Working with blind musicians turns into a life-changing experience
This is a story about how working with young, blind musicians changed my life. These children were some of my favorite students of my career. They taught me more than I will ever be able to teach them. They were
Drastic Measures
What happens when orchestra musicians believe that the answer to their troubles is to kick out the union?
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or
Taking Charge
Trumpeter Paul Cohen is still swinging at 91
In 1940, Paul Benjamin Cohen first joined Local 802. He had arrived. Now, more than seven decades later, Paul is still swinging. He recently celebrated his 91st birthday at a senior center in Margate, Florida, where he leads a weekly
Hidden History
Deep and poignant memories of New York City Opera
Hello from an old-time member of the New York City Opera Orchestra. When I heard that the opera was faced with bankruptcy, I just about cried. NYCO embedded the best years of my life. I auditioned and got into
Christmas is in the air
Photo Spread
Radio City Music Hall is alive with the sound of Local 802 musicians performing the annual Christmas Spectacular show with the Rockettes. Musicians play up to six shows a day for nine weeks in this intense holiday gig. Pictured here
We’ve lost a giant
Remembering the magic of Frank Wess
We’ve lost the great Frank Wess – known to many as “Magic” – a dear mentor, friend, and giant of music. Someone I have looked up to my entire musical life. A source of immeasurable inspiration and guidance, as
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 after I returned to NYC for the first time since my student years at Juilliard. I would like to network with as many musicians as I can. My musical goal in NYC is to perform chamber
Executive Board Minutes
September 17, 2013 - October 8, 2013
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 2013 Meeting called to order at 11:07 AM. Present: President Gagliardi, Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Burridge, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Kruvand, Schwartz, Sharman, Assistant to the President Boyle. Minutes from
Minor decrease does not indicate any long-term issues
Financial Vice President's Report
Local 802’s audited financial statements for the first six months of 2013 appear in the printed issue of Allegro. These statements are not designed to track Local 802’s actual budget, but instead form a snapshot. This particular snapshot shows modest
Explaining our slight loss in first six months
Controller's Report
As Financial Vice President Tom Olcott writes in his column, the union experienced a financial decrease in the first half of 2013. Fortunately, it was extremely minor. For the six-month period from Jan. 1, 2013 to June 30, 2013, Local
Happy holidays? Not always
Musicians' Assistance Program
The office of the Musicians’ Assistance Program is your one-stop shop for musicians’ health. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing, food stamps
December ’13
The Band Room
In 1955, Lee Konitz and Warne Marsh recorded an experiment with time displacement, playing the last chorus of the bebop standard “Donna Lee” starting one beat early and keeping it there while the rhythm section stayed with the original placement.
Contractor’s checklist
The following is a list of tasks that a contractor is required to complete for all electronic media sessions. If a contractor is not required on the session by the terms of the specific collective bargaining agreement, the leader is