Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! WHAT? Help Local 802 update its Musician Referral Service by choosing a brand name for our new online directory. HOW? Submit your entries to contest@local802afm.org. Include your name, union card number, and

I am pleased to be able to begin this report with some good news. The New York City Opera is alive again! After over two years in limbo, the company has new owners. A bankruptcy court has approved the group

I hope that everyone had a great summer. For me and Local 802, it was jam-packed with Broadway negotiations, the AFM convention and election endorsements. Those three topics are what I want to address in this month’s column. First, you

In mid-April, we learned that one of the great musical luminaries of our time is stepping down. Maestro James Levine will end his role as music director at the Metropolitan Opera at the end of this season. He will remain

My report this month will be short because there’s really only one thing on our minds: the Nov. 8 election, which is just around the corner. In this issue, please see The Local 802 Endorsement Slate. As always, we do

This month, Local 802 will finally begin negotiations with the League for our upcoming Broadway agreement. Over the past year, we’ve been meeting with our Theatre Committee to come up with our basic proposals and strategy. Needless to say, this

ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 15, 2016 for the benefit period that begins Sept. 1, 2016. IMPORTANT: There is NO MORE BUY UP from this point forward. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed

We have received a demographics report from the Broadway League covering the most recent Broadway season (2014-2015). The League has kindly allowed us to share the report’s executive summary with our readers. Note that recent admissions have broken records. EXECUTIVE

The Local 802 Executive Board has endorsed Jerrold Nadler for re-election to U.S. Congress. Congressman Nadler represents New York’s 10th congressional district, which covers the west side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. He has made artists and musicians a

It’s a new year – a time to begin, start over, refresh and renew. In this spirit, the Council for Living Music is proud to announce the launch of its new web site: CouncilForLivingMusic.org. The site contains fresh content about

  In the September issue of Allegro, we told members that our attorney Harvey Mars had recovered the historic Titanic musicians’ plaque, which is more than 100 years old and which Local 802 used to own before losing it during

The referral service has a new name! The Executive Board would like to thank everyone who participated in the renaming contest. Your contributions helped pave the way for our upcoming reboot. Each of your entries was reviewed, and the Executive

Music and the arts are vital components of our society, able to bridge linguistic, economic and social divides. They comprise our cultural heritage, a culmination of our past and present, which becomes a gift for our future. Today, our artists

The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to Allegro@Local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

A note from the political director… It’s finally here. After what seems like the longest campaign season in American history – and after what will surely be remembered as among the least predictable election cycles of the modern era –

Local 802 members who perform in the freelance classical field have experienced a world of hurt for many years now. I hate to write that sentence. I prefer – both personally and institutionally – to present a more optimistic, brighter

ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY January 15, 2017 for the benefit period that begins March 1, 2017. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed between July 1 to December 31, 2016 can be reported on

Al “Boogie” Carty is a bassist, composer, musical director and creative collaborator who works with some of the top names in the music business across different genres. The Bronx native, who first joined Local 802 in 1999, has recently been

Well, wouldn’t you know it! Remember how my column last month expressed cautious optimism about the freelance concert world? I wrote about some recent Local 802 deals that showed progress in wages and other conditions. I wondered if the recent

PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Hillary Rodham Clinton The Local 802 Executive Board is proud to endorse former secretary of state, senator and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton for president of the United States of America. Secretary Clinton has demonstrated

The union helps you get paid better! A few months ago, Local 802 received calls from musicians about three shows at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Long Island conducted by Dean Karahalis and the Concert Pops Orchestra.

Music and the arts are often the ultimate manifestation of a society’s values. Throughout history, the arts have stood the test of time, providing the thread that connects a community’s unique fabric of priorities while also addressing its challenges. It

June is always a busy month in halls and backrooms of New York state and city government. The legislative session in Albany comes to a frenzied close with the “big ugly” and the next fiscal year budget is agreed to

When should musicians play for free? In the June issue of Allegro, Tom Olcott discussed “the chamber music conundrum” and the ambiguity that musicians often face regarding artistic satisfaction versus the need to make a living. I’d like to follow

One of my duties as financial vice president is to assist in the production of the annual audit of the local’s finances and to report the results to the membership. The audit was completed and reviewed by our accountants, Gould,

We’re now just a few days before the election. As you know, Local 802 has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. For me, the current presidential race presents the starkest choice I have seen in my life – and I remember

Valerie Naranjo, a member of Local 802 since 1989, has been the percussionist in the Saturday Night Live band for 20 years and has served in the pit orchestra of Broadway’s “The Lion King” for almost as long. She was

For the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, Local 802 realized a gain of $219,603. The audited financial statements for the six-month period appear in the printed issue of Allegro. The Statement of Activities reflects an increase in total revenue

The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to allegro@local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

It’s called the music business for a reason. The business side of music is often anathema to most musicians – something to be ignored, feared or misunderstood. Historically, music conservatories and other higher educational institutions have put little weight on

In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police conducted a now-infamous raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. The event led to what became known as the Stonewall Riots and is largely credited as launching the Gay

Andy Schwartz is the recording vice president of Local 802 and the supervisor of the union’s organizing, jazz and single engagement departments. Contact him at aschwartz@local802afm.org or (212) 245-4802, ext. 110. This is my first column writing to you as

This election cycle was marked by intolerance, disenfranchisement, sexism, racism, anger and nationalism. Let’s respond with engagement, tolerance, equity and vigilance for the vulnerable. Trumpet players are famous for worrying about their high notes. When I was a student, that

In the closing hours of the legislative session in Albany, the Assembly and Senate passed the Empire State Music Production Tax Credit (A10083A/S7485A), marking a major step forward in Local 802’s efforts to drive New York’s recording industry by providing

Earth Day this year occurs in a world more aware and concerned about the environment and our effect on it. World leaders met recently in Paris to create real goals on curbing emissions. President Obama and others have called our

Presidential candidates were not the only individuals on the ballot for Local 802 members on April 19. Though Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich deservedly received the bulk of the attention, many members on Long

All photos by Walter Karling. As a packed crowd poured into Local 802 on an early October night, it was clear this was going to be an exciting evening. Jazz Mentors held its fifth successive event as part of what

Local 802’s Jazz Department started off the year on a solid footing by hosting a panel at this year’s Jazz Connect Conference. The annual event was sponsored by Jazz Times magazine, and took place at St. Peter’s Church on Jan.

NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl explains what’s going into the city’s first comprehensive cultural plan and why it’s important for musicians to take part in the process In October, the Department of Cultural Affairs kicked off the public input

Knowledge is power. Local 802 was once again the setting for our fourth Jazz Mentors program, which was presented earlier this summer in the Club Room. The all-star panel included virtuosic drummer-bandleader Sherrie Maricle, top-ranked vocalist/educator Amy London, versatile jazz

It’s all about respect! Part-time jazz faculty at the New School first won a contract with Local 802 in 1998. At the time, faculty had received only one raise in over 10 years and had no health benefits, pension or

New York City is a union town! It’s a chant heard at labor rallies all over the city, and it’s true – New York City was built and is continuing to be supported by union labor. And while the classic

Broadway legend Maurice Hines taps us through his incredible career in show business in “Tappin’ Thru Life,” a song and dance celebration. Hines pays tribute to his brother Gregory as well as the performers who inspired him – from Frank

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

Live musical theatre sounded great at the Broadway League’s annual revue called “Stars in the Alley,” which took place in the heart of the theatre district. The free outdoor concert included excerpts from many top shows. Local 802 members performed

April 19 came and went, and with it passed New York State’s presidential primary. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton collected 139 of 247 delegates, and real estate mogul Donald Trump secured 89 of 95 delegates. Though both results had

As many know, Local 802 member Mary Whitaker was murdered on Aug. 20, 2014 at her home in Chautauqua, New York. She was only 61 when she was killed and she had been a member since 1976. (Search the Allegro

It’s open enrollment time for Obamacare plans. But what does this mean – and how can you sign up? The Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) has been in the news a lot recently, and with good reason: premiums

When I started my job at Guitar Center on 14th Street in Manhattan three years ago, some of my coworkers said that it used to be decent place to work. Many of us were working musicians, spending all our free

The word is getting out! The Jazz Mentors series rolled out its third installment, as legendary bassist Ron Carter, pianists Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap and composer-conductor Maria Schneider took questions at Local 802 from an engaged audience of jazz

Coinciding with the recent 105th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and just in time for Labor History Month, NYU has revived and restored the 1937 musical “Pins and Needles,” one of the first musical theatre works to deal with

Three-time Grammy-nominated cellist and composer Dave Eggar has been a member of Local 802 for almost 20 years. A virtuoso in classical, jazz and rock cello, Eggar started his academic career at Harvard, where he studied both music and biophysics,

Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to hsmlaborlaw@harveymarssattorney.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

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

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. Present: President Gagliardi, Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Schwartz, Sharman. Minutes from September 8, 2015 reviewed. It was

David Amram has played with everyone and traveled everywhere, but it’s never gone to his head. He started his professional life in music in the early 1950s playing French horn in the legendary jazz bands of Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie

Recently, two extremely important decisions were rendered by the courts that are worth mentioning to all union activists and musicians. It is very heartening to see that there are judicial opinions being issued in this country that are favorable to

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

Local 802 musicians, officers, staff and supporters marched in the annual labor parade sponsored by the Central Labor Council. This year’s band included (clockwise from left): Scott Bourgeois (tenor sax); Rick Faulkner (trombone); Kevin Blancq (bandleader and trumpet); Mary Cherney

For most woodwind players on Broadway, doubling is a mandatory part of the profession. But was this always true…and how old is the tradition of doubling? Multi-tasking has become a staple of modern living and is certainly a requirement for

This opportunity to rejoin the union was bestowed uponst me once again at the end of 2014 when I let my union dues lapse. I was on the road with my band, the Stumblebum Brass Band, most of last year

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

My father, Sherman Frank, died earlier this year on April 14 at the age of 90. He was a music director, conductor, arranger and pianist, and had been a member of Local 802 for over 40 years. I would like

Now in its 12th year, the NYC Winter Jazzfest has evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated events in the New York music calendar. Over the course of five days, the festival encompasses an astonishingly wide variety of music, with

“Some days you get up and put the horn to your chops and it sounds pretty good and you win. Some days you try and nothing works and the horn wins. This goes on and on and then you die

Something new has come to classical performances. The debut season of the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York brought unprecedented visual spectacle to two landmark symphonies of Mahler and Berlioz in a pair of concerts under conductor Atsushi Yamada. Not only

There’s a place for us….somewhere, a place for us.” Those immortal lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” were the basis for a new project in celebration of Carnegie Hall’s 125th anniversary season. The Weill Music Institute

How do you play percussion on Broadway? The New York University Percussion Studies Program, under the direction of Jonathan Haas, hosted this year’s ninth annual Broadway Percussion Seminar, an event which brings together an array of renowned Broadway percussionists and

Each year, as the tax season approaches, Allegro publishes these updated tax tips for musicians provided by Local 802’s accounting firm, Gould, Kobrick & Schlapp P.C. OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS The following outline focuses on important aspects of the tax law

The mantra of my professional life is “Progress begins with one word: NO!” No, I will not sell my music on a buyout basis for a one-time fee; No, I will not sign a so-called standard work-for-hire contract that does

The piece about James Petrillo in the previous issue of Allegro brought back many memories of the time I spent with him in 1965. I was still living in England and had auditioned for a job playing piano on the

Born in Queens, drummer Michael Keller has enjoyed a long and varied career in music. A member of Local 802 since 1966, Keller has played numerous Broadway shows and also toured with Dionne Warwick and the Fifth Dimension. For 15

I joined Local 802 when I was asked to play Handel’s Messiah with Trinity Wall Street last holiday season. As a baroque cellist and gambist, I am part of the movement to bring historically informed performance into the mainstream in

George Wesner is the principal organist at Radio City Music Hall and has played over 4,000 shows for more than 23 million people. A Local 802 member since 1981, he has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra and the Grammy

JACK FEIERMAN Jack Feierman, 91, a trumpeter, arranger, composer and conductor, died on Jan. 19. He had been a member of Local 802 since 1956. Mr. Feierman earned his degree in music education at Eastman, but conducting was his passion.

Would you like to see more recording work in New York? If so, you’re not alone. The Recording Musicians Association is a nonprofit advocacy group for recording musicians that strives to benefit union recording musicians in both the United States

An attack on public sector unions is an attack on what all unions do best: speak with one voice to improve the lives of working people The Labor Movement provides the best way for working people to get ahead; particularly

How do jazz musicians go about securing a viable career? Our new Jazz Mentors program has been attracting enthusiastic crowds to hear top artists tackle this question. As Allegro was going to press, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes and

It’s been a journey from my small town in northern Maine to becoming a professional musician in NYC. My music education was what I thought to be unfocused at first: I started with piano and made my way through saxophone

I joined Local 802 because I wanted to return to my NYC roots and emulate my heroes, like Milt Hinton, Bill Crow and Marcus Miller! I’ve served as a military musician, and here in NYC I would love to work

The WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL has enjoyed support from the Music Performance Trust Fund since 1953. Musicians are covered under a union contract. The Festival Chamber Orchestra performed earlier this summer and was conducted by LUTZ RATH. Soloists LARISA ELISHA

In the early 1990s, after I earned my master’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, I did what I always wanted to do: I moved east to NYC to become a freelance musician. Wide-eyed and eager, I called up

I joined Local 802 when I played on the Broadway revival of “Spring Awakening.” (I was the assistant music director as well as a musician/actor swing. I conducted and played bass, piano and guitar.) My position at “Spring Awakening” came

I joined Local 802 to play drums on the hit show “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and do other union jobs, like “America’s Got Talent” at Radio City Music Hall and TV work such as the Today Show. I’m always

The following excerpt is from Local 802 member Andrew Schulman’s new book, “Waking the Spirit: A Musician’s Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul,” coming out this summer from Picador. (Read a review here, and info for the book release event here).

The Local 802 softball teams played their hearts out this season. As usual, we competed in the Performing Arts Softball League, a 12-team league composed exclusively of Broadway unions and other entertainment professionals in New York City. To get information

People always ask me, “What are you doing down here?” I have been a professional busker in the NYC subway with MTA’s Music Under New York program since 2004. I was born on the Lower East Side and grew up

I joined Local 802 so I could be connected to other musicians and find people who need a pianist, composer and arranger. Before I moved to NYC, I lived back and forth between Korea and the Netherlands for eight years,

I rejoined the union after moving back to New York to continue to network further and begin taking more professional gigs. My goal is to work as a theatrical musical director with the ultimate dream being to open a show

Have you ever played a gig where you had to go undercover to keep your life safe? I recently traveled to one of the most dangerous places in the world in order to prove that the art form of jazz

Guitarist Con Astone, 79, died on May 26. He had been a member of Local 802 since 1955. Local 802 received the following tribute from Con Astone’s son Erik: “Now appearing in Heaven, Con Astone, fresh from his club date

Happy birthday, New York Pops! The orchestra celebrated its 33rd birthday in style at Carnegie Hall, where students from the Pops’ “Kids on Stage” music education program performed. The Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the country and

LYNN BERMAN Lynn Berman, 86, a trumpeter and a member of Local 802 for over 50 years, died on Nov. 25. Mr. Berman, a veteran who had played in the Army band, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of

TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. Present: President Gagliardi, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Burridge, Cranshaw, Schwartz, Sharman, Assistant to the President Bond. Minutes from August 4, 2015 reviewed. It was moved

I joined Local 802 because I was working at the John W. Engeman Theatre at Northport with James Olmstead as the associate conductor on “A Chorus Line.” I moved to the city three years ago because of the NYU graduate

I re-joined Local 802 when I started subbing for rehearsals at “Shuffle Along” on Broadway. I’ve played lead alto in the Count Basie Band for the last 15 years, and before that played with Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Paquito D’Rivera,

ALEX GIRALDO Alex Giraldo, 100, a classical guitarist and bel canto vocalist, died on Jan. 28. He had been a member of Local 802 for 60 years, since 1943. Mr. Giraldo was born in Sahagún, Colombia, a small costal town

I joined Local 802 when I was invited to perform with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. My musical goal in New York City is to establish a performing and teaching residency for my string quartet, the Harlem Quartet. My most favorite

The following two bylaw amendments will be introduced at the Feb. 10 membership meeting. Words that are struck through indicate deleted language. Words that are underlined indicate added or new language. 1. ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS. NEW SECTION 2. In the

I rejoined the union after a lapse in membership. I had fallen on tough times and could no longer afford the quarterly fees. At that time, I started to wonder if I was still meant to be a bass player

I joined AFM Local 400 (Hartford, Conn.) when I became a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and then I joined Local 802 soon after. The freelance scene in New York is very rich and diverse, and my goal

Steve Tarshis and I met back in 1984 working at the Guitar Study Center. We discovered that we both had a deep love for the blues. I asked him if he’d like to come to a jam session I put

I first joined Local 802 to sub on Broadway shows and have access to the various workshops, programs and opportunities offered. After a hiatus of subbing, I rejoined the union to begin subbing on “The King and I” and play

After seven years away, I moved back to New York last year. I joined Local 802 because I want to be a part of the local musical community. My musical goal is to play all the types of music New

I joined Local 802 in order to sub on Broadway shows and also to have access to the community of my fellow players. My primary goal in New York is to be a regular Broadway musician subbing and playing my

I joined Local 802 because I would like to make music and pursue my musical career without the worries that follow some artists in this business. I recently performed on the same billing as R&B singer Monifah Carter and I

A date without Moe is a song without sunshine,” I would say to him before the start of every session, parodying a then-current orange juice commercial. And Moe would laugh in his bouncy, guarded way, not really comfortable with direct

After living and playing classical violin with tremendous orchestras – and singing and playing with brilliant jazz and fusion groups in Santa Barbara as a member of AFM Local 308 for the past 23 years – I returned to New

I joined Local 802 in an effort to broaden employment and networking opportunities with other musicians both in and out of the union. I seek to expand on my creative and artistic skills as a singer, instrumentalist and composer in

I joined Local 802 when I moved to New York to study at Juilliard. I have learned so much in my few years in New York. I absolutely love the networking opportunities the union provides. I have had the privilege

After nine years playing principal harp in the Paris Opera, I joined the MET Orchestra as the new principal harp. Joining Local 802 seemed like a very natural thing, coming from union-friendly France! It feels good knowing that our contracts

I joined Local 802 after spending years working at a day job in the I.T. field. I wanted to rebuild my musical career as quickly as possible, so joining an organization composed of so many top-notch musicians gives me the

NOTE: The Executive Board did not meet on November 3, 2015 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Cutler, Cranshaw, Dougherty,

I recently heard a clip on YouTube of Yo-Yo Ma playing Saint-Saens’ “The Swan,” very beautifully. It took me back to the record player that was in our house when I was a child, an Edison cylinder machine that you

I joined Local 802 to work as a copyist on the Broadway show “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.” Primarily, though, I am a composer-lyricist. I earned my master’s at NYU’s graduate musical theatre writing program.

The music from “Fiddler on the Roof” is magical, and it stays in your head forever. Local 802 musicians recently recorded the cast album soundtrack at MSR studios, enjoying the wages, protections and benefits of a union contract. Allegro photographer

I joined Local 802 after moving from Minneapolis, where I was a member of AFM Local 30-73. I’ve been touring with various Broadway musicals as a guitarist. Most recently, I played in the national tour of “Sister Act,” where I

I joined the union so that I could participate in more musical activities in New York. My goal is to become an active performer and teacher of early music in New York City. My most favorite recent gig was a

TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:00 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Sharman, Suttmann, Assistant to the President Bond. Minutes

I am excited to be a member of Local 802, working as a pianist, music director and arranger in New York City. I joined the union to be a part of Broadway and Off Broadway productions such as “Clinton: the

When Robert Lindner got a call in 1990 from the Steven Scott office to play at John Gotti Jr.’s wedding at the Helmsley Palace, he was originally booked to play cocktail piano music at 7 p.m. in a separate room

[The Executive Board did not meet on April 12, 2016] TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Sharman,

NOTE: The Executive Board did not meet on Dec. 22, 2015 or Dec. 29, 2015. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:12 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Brandford, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Sharman, Assistant to the President Bond. President Gaglardi absent on union

Dave McKenna (1930-2008) was a one-of-a-kind piano player. He often denied that he was a jazz player, even though he was steeped in the music. “I’m a song player,” he would say, and he certainly played all the wonderful songs

JOE CABOT Joe Cabot, 94, died on March 7, after being a member of Local 802 since 1947. Mr. Cabot’s career as a trumpet player, bandleader and musical director spanned nearly seven decades. Born Joseph Claude Caputo, he grew up

The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,

I joined Local 802 because I just moved to NYC from London and started getting work playing horn in some Broadway shows. When I was working in London, I was unable to join the British Musicians’ Union because I was

TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:07 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Sharman, Suttmann, Assistant to the President Bond. President Gagliardi absent. Minutes from May

In a jazz cruise I once played, I was able to take my wife, Aileen. She already knew some of the musicians, like Clark Terry, Joe Cohn and Milt Hinton. She soon became friends with many of the others, and

I had the perfect childhood in Elizabeth, New Jersey until I turned 14 years old – then my life turned upside down when my parents divorced. I had no warning. My parents didn’t sit me down and explain. It just

I met Derek Smith when he first moved from London to New York City. Before there were Playboy clubs, there was an outfit called the Cliff Dwellers that ran open parties for young singles in a location on 5th Avenue

ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY January 15, 2017 for the benefit period that begins March 1, 2017. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed between July 1 to December 31, 2016 can be reported on

As a member of AFM Local 11-637 in Louisville, I developed a great deal of respect for what it is that the union does for professional musicians. After several years of membership there, I decided to focus on my career

As a recent college graduate, I joined Local 802 to start my professional career in music. I am an orchestrator/arranger, composer and classically trained violinist, and am eager to find new orchestration and performance opportunities. I have been fortunate enough

I originally joined AFM Local 9-535 in Boston to play on the Today Show with Meghan Trainor (of “All About That Bass” fame), but it ended up falling through. I moved to New York almost a year ago, and joined

I’ve pretty well figured out my computer, and I’m still figuring out how to use some of the features on my cell phone. The telephone has undergone some amazing changes since I first figured out how to use one. When

Music touches all souls. Recently, Local 802 member Svjetlana Kabalin (flute) led her Sylvan Winds ensemble in a performance at the 74th Street Residence Senior Center to the delight of the audience. The job, which was covered under a Local