Allegro
Currently Browsing: November, 2013
New York City Opera will always be a part of us
President's Report
This has been one of the hardest months in my time as a musician, as a union president and as a New Yorker. The fact that the New York City Opera will be missing from the cultural scene is something
Stronger Together
An exclusive interview with AFM President Ray Hair
This month, Allegro is honored to feature an interview with AFM President Ray Hair about hot topics in the recording industry. It’s immediately clear that President Hair is both a big picture person and a detail man. As part
I Love NYCO
Musicians from the New York City Opera share some cherished - and funny - memories of playing together
It was my greatest pleasure to play for Maestro George Manahan at New York City Opera. In his 14 years as music director, he developed our ensemble and taught us to trust his every move. He used to say that
Help One, Help All
Why the union's jazz campaign is good for all of us
In the end of my block is a restaurant that features live music most nights of the week. The caliber of the musicianship is fine and the diversity of musical styles is exciting, ranging from reggae to country swing to
Jimmy Owens speaks out on Justice for Jazz Artists
It’s great to get our message out – especially to 100,000 listeners at once! Earlier this fall, National Endowment for the Arts Jazz Master and longtime Local 802 member Jimmy Owens spoke before the regular Saturday morning rally of the
Why I love classical music
Recently, one of our board leaders commented to me, “I know you prefer playing classical music to pops.” I think he meant to demonstrate his sensitivity to the reluctance of orchestral musicians to play more and more pops shows, a
When orchestra boards fail us
Financial Vice-President's Report
Last month was musical hell. We lost the New York City Opera, and the situation in Minnesota got even worse, thanks to the sad departure of its music director, Osmo Vänskä. But the larger issue is how the media likes
Wasted Words
The failure of arts journalism at a time of cultural need
The first of October was a difficult day for the musicians of the Minnesota Orchestra, a day that marked the one-year point of the managerial-imposed lockout that has silenced an orchestra once called “the best in the world.” That morning,
Cutting Edge
Musicians who play in top new theatre festivals are welcomed to Local 802
New York City has always been the best place to advance new art. Starting in the 1990s, the festival circuit here began to grow in many genres – film, music, dance and theatre. The New York Musical Theatre Festival –
A Century of Swing
'Never lose your groove!'
SHARE THIS ARTICLE ON FACEBOOK Viola Smith died at the age of 107 on Oct. 21, 2020. Please enjoy this tribute we published in 2013 when Ms. Smith was the spritely age of 101. [published in 2013] As the oldest
Want to make more money on your gig?
Musicians increase their paychecks with a call to the union
To say that the past year has been brutal for orchestral musicians is a bit of an understatement. As you have certainly read by now, musicians in the U.S. and overseas have been beleaguered by unprecedented attacks from their managements.
‘Dude, Where’s the melody?’
Legal Corner
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
Ecuador offers ‘asylum’ to jazz artists
Letter from Quito
The government of Ecuador is known most recently for providing NSA whistleblower Edward Snowden with travel documents so he could get from Hong Kong to Moscow, and offering asylum to WikiLeaks mastermind Julian Assange. Before that, many citizens of North
Career boost: trombonist picks up new skills and new gig
Local 802 member Joe Stanko was a successful freelance musician in NYC when he realized his career needed a little boost. He learned about the Actors Fund Work Program, which – despite its name – is not just for
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 to do more union jobs and help support the music union community. My musical goal in NYC is to become involved with jazz, Latin jazz, big band and Broadway, and to record as much as possible.
Executive Board Minutes
July 16, 2013 - September 10, 2013
NOTE: The Executive Board did not meet on the following dates: July 23, Aug. 20 and Sept. 3. Tuesday, July 16, 2013 Meeting called to order at 11:05 AM by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor,
How to stop singing the winter blues
Musicians' Assistance Program
New York City is known for having an extreme climate. We have hot, humid summers and cold, blistery winters, with a few sunny and mild days of spring and fall in between. Even though New Yorkers are known for being
November ’13
The Band Room
Linda Novis sent me this story that was told to her by her late father, Frank Pomerantz, who worked in New York advertising for over forty years. A colleague, Ken Silverbush at Hi-Fi Stereo magazine, told him that one day