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News, Events & Announcements

News, Opinions and Observations on the Situation at the Orchestra


7/25/2008 Buckeyes vs. Columbus Symphony: Can't there be room for both?
7/25/2008 Architect's proposal for downtown performing arts center
7/25/2008 Musicians sue for back pay
7/24/2008 Siciliani to conduct this week. Comments in the Other Paper
7/24/2008 Greg Kufchak: The board and management increasingly irrelevant as musicians organize own concerts
7/24/2008 Horndog: With much rancor
7/24/2008 Unfair labor practices charges filed
7/24/2008 Another letter to the Mayor
7/23/2008 Fall Season Canceled (Note that the season normally begins in September, but this year CAPA has programmed the Lion King for the entire month)  (bizjournal.com but it was the board that canceled the fall season, not the musicians) (Janelle Gelfand from Cincinnati)
7/23/2008 Letter from Jan Ryan to Mayor Coleman
7/23/2008 David Thomas appearing at Mozart's fundraiser tonight, event sold out (Columbus loves us!)
7/22/2008 Horndog Beadle the Hutt
7/22/2008 Greg Kufchek comments on recent communications from Trafford and Beadle
7/22/2008 Horndog comments on recent developments
7/22/2008 Another response to Beadle vs Hirokami
7/22/2008 David Thomas traces anonymous sophomoric comments (here and here) to Tony Beadle's computer. Note citation of the fate of the Florida Philharmonic, an orchestra destroyed by a board with a hidden agenda. Is this what they have planned for Columbus?
7/21/2008 Greg Kufchak on the shameful behavior of the Executive Board
7/21/2008 Ron Spiegleman, conductor: Sticking it in the (buck)eye!......  (More on Beadle vs Hirokami)
7/21/2008 Adaptistration: Ignorance, Thy Name Is Columbus (On Sheldon Taft's response to Janelle Gelfand in the WSJ)
7/20/2008 Japanese blog entry on Beadle vs Hirokami. Translation anyone?
7/20/2008 Joe Blundo's column, another referendum on the board and managment.
7/20/2008 Violinist David Edge on the recent offer to fire Hirokami
7/19/2008 Greg Kufchak:Withholding of funding a referndum on the board. 
7/19/2008 Some letters to The Other Paper
7/18/2008 David Thomas: Responses to reponse to Tony Beadle's attack on Hirokami. (7/15/2008) (GCAC Economic Impact of Arts and Culture (PDF 1.1Mb)) 
7/17/2008 Janelle Galfand asks if the CSO musicians could start a self-governing orchestra. (They have taken a first step in this direction already)
7/17/2008 Bill Eddins: Pull up the roots...
7/17/2008 Adaptistration: A picture is worth 1,000 words (or 1,500 patrons at last Friday's concert)
7/17/2008 NYT: Musicians reject offer, Beadle responds ro criticism
7/16/2008 Adaptistration: Beadle? Pot? Kettle?
7/16/2008 Dinosaur Songs
7/16/2008 David Thomas: Letter from David Lundberg: Throwing away a chance to be a world-class city
7/16/2008 Janelle Gelfand: Board asks musicians to help fire Hirokami
7/15/2008 David Thomas: Korine Fujiwara responds to Tony Beadle's attack on Hirokami: When is Beadle moving to Columbus?
7/15/2008 Dispatch: Musicians reject offer that includes firing Hirokami
7/15/2008 David Thomas: Make it everyone's orchestra
7/14/2008 David Thomas on Saturday's concert
7/12/2008 David Thomas: Our first self-Managed concert!
7/12/2008 Dispatch: Concert drew over 1000, Siciliani and Hirokami to conduct additional concerts, mediated talks inconclusive
7/12/2008 David Thomas: Anonymous support for sef-governing orchestra at SymphonyStrong.com
7/11/2008 David Thomas: Nervous about this weekend's concerts
7/10/2008 David Thomas: Volunteers needed for Saturday's concert
7/10/2008 Ohio Arts Council OKs Conditional Grant to CSO
7/9/2008 Plain Dealer: Columbus Symphony Fights On
7/8/2008 Other Columbus arts organizations are doing well, so why is the symphony failing?
7/8/2008 David Thomas on this weekend's concerts (and more)
7/7/2008 David Thomas: Letter from Valerie Gibbs to the Women's Association of the CSO
7/4/2008 Musicians play (see below) and negotiations resume with moderator
7/3/2008 Symphony Musicians Announce Summer Season
7/1/2008 Message from David Thomas
6/29/2008 Responses to Janelle Gelfand: You only need 11, and a defense from board member Sheldon Taft
6/24/2008 Message from Vladimir Gluzman
6/23/2008 Adaptistration: Knowing when to quit. 
6/21/2008 David Thomas: Who is the problem?
6/18/2008 Janelle Gelfand: Goodbye Columbus Symphony?
6/17/2008 Kenneth Wood, conductor and former CSO associate
6/14/2008 Letter from Jennifer Parker-Harley
6/13/2008 Youth Orchestras at risk.
6/12/2008 Janelle Gelfand: The problem in Columbus?
6/9/2008 David Thomas: Letters from Jan Ryan
6/9/2008 Adaptistration: Things that make you go "Buh"?
6/8/2008 Abu Bratsche: What is the opposite of accountability
6/8/2008 Horndog: Where is the civic pride?
6/7/2008 The economic impact of an orchestra
6/7/2008 Comments on new arts council from David Thomas & Ron Spigelman (music directory of the Springfield Mo. Symphony)
6/6/2008 Union: Board can't terminate contract
6/6/2008 The Other Paper: Gone for good?
6/5/2008 David Thomas: Eerie silence in Columbus
6/3/2008 Dispatch: 2nd arts council to look at long-term solutions
6/3/2008 Non Divisi: Columbus' Last Voyage?
6/1/2008 Reaction from Toledo
6/1/2008 Dispatch: Ending on uncertain note
6/1/2008 David Thomas: Symphony's last stand?
5/30/2008 David Thomas: Message from Pam Conley
5/30/2008 Bizjournal: Symphony musicians ask for third-party mediator
5/29/2008 WOSU: Musicians seek non-binding mediation. Jacksonville lockout.
5/29/2008 Marvin Hamlisch Steps up for the Symphony
5/29/2008 Adaptistration: Cleveland and Cincinnati Musicians Speak Out. More from Cincinnati.
5/29/2008 David Thomas: Suggestions for the board from down-bow man
5/28/2008 David Thomas: Junichi Hirokami's Gift to Columbus
5/28/2008 Little progress in talks, orchestra members call for mediation
5/27/2008 David Thomas: GCAC tables action on symphony grant
5/27/2008 David Thomas: Why Buzz Trafford has failed Columbus
5/27/2008 Adaptistration: Why do they keep opening their mouths?
5/26/2008 David Thomas: To Members of the CSO Board
5/26/2008 Horndog: Dodging bullets in Afganistan
5/25/2008 David Thomas: Disheartening Rhetoric from the CSO Board Chair (in response to the Open Line interview here)
5/24/2008 Letter to the Editor: A Scientist's Support for the CSO
5/23/2008 Horndog: Interview with CSO Hornist Julia Rose
5/23/2008 Horndog: Royal Flush in Columbus
5/22/2008 Letter from Katherine Mero
5/22/2008 Adaptistration: Why read when you can watch?  (Links to YouTube videos of musicians' press conference with comments.)
5/22/2008 Dan LaMacchia, Certified Financial Planner with AG Edwards, prepared this analysis (PDF, 343Kb of the Symphony's finances and this supporting fact sheet  (PDF, 127Kb).
5/21/2008 Jay Fishman responds to Trafford Quotes
5/21/2008 David Thomas:  A Message of Hope for Columbus
5/21/2008 Symphony musicians propose 7% salary cut to save season 
5/20/2008 Budget proposal from CSO musicians
5/20/2008 ISCOM President Bruce Ridge's Commitment
5/19/2008 Charles Noble: Entropy
5/19/2008 Letter from CSO bassist Russ Gill
5/19/2008 Letter from Paul Josenhans
5/18/2008 Abu Bratche: The answer to the problems of the orchestra industry
5/18/2008 David Thomas: So Columbus can't afford a world class symphony?
5/17/2008 Matthew Guerrieri, Boston-based composer, conductor, pianist:  Bread and Roses
5/17/2008 Another response to "Dinosaur": Letter from Gisela Josenhans
5/17/2008 Response to "Dinosaur" comment by Tony Beadle (Be sure to click on the image for enlarged version!)
5/17/2008 Comments on Barbara Zuck's review from David Thomas and Charles Noble.
5/17/2008 Comments on GCAC decision from Christopher Purdy and David Thomas.
5/16/2008 David Thomas: Surfboards ready?
5/15/2008 David Thomas: More from Bob Nichols; Tony Beadle Lacks Passion for CSO
5/15/2008 Abu Bratche: Why?
5/15/2008 UWeekly: Music Stops for Columbus Symphony
5/15/2008 Strong Language from Charleston
5/14/2008 Charles Noble: More Columbus Analysis
5/14/2008 Abu Bratche:: Symphonicide
5/13/2008 Janelle Gefland: ISCOM to try to save orchestra
5/13/2008 David Thomas: The to-do list - needed by yestertomorrow!; Letter from a symphony supporter.
5/13/2008 Charles Noble: Columbus Symphony circling the drain?
5/13/2008 Adaptistration: Columbus' Smoking Gun
5/13/2008 The view from Cincinnati: The Enquirer; Janelle Gefland's Blog here, here, and here.
5/12/2008 More from David Thomas' Blog: Response to Dispatch Editorial, Letter from First Bassooist to Dispatch
5/12/2008 Christopher Purdy: Like attending a dear friend's funeral
5/12/2008 Adaptistration: Its the board, stupid
5/10/2008 Some recent posts to David Thomas' Blog: Columbus Symphony Crisis: A Fresh PerspectiveLetter to Tony Beadle from Bob & Pat Nichols, Letter from Jon Kimura Parker,  CSO Management Losing Public Respect.
5/10/2008 Daniel Watkin, New York Times: Columbus Orchestra may suspend operation
5/9/2008 Adaptistration: Columbus board prepares to throw in the towel
4/29/2008 Charles Noble: columbus symphony: cadillac or chevrolet?
4/29/2008 Musical America: Columbus Symph Gets Momentary Bail-Out
4/29/2008 Adaptistration: Columbus Season To Continue Unabated
4/28/2008 Adaptistration: Initial Response from the Board
4/25/2008 Adaptistration: Contract offer rejected
4/23/2008 Adaptistration: Some Belated Thoughts On Columbus
4/12/2008 NY Times: Symphony Plays Through Its Troubles
3/24/2008 Adaptistration: As Negotiations Continue, Columbus Eyes Cash Flow
3/20/2008 Charles Noble: Communities, Boards and Orchestras
3/20/2008 Adaptistration: Columbus Travels Around the Blogsphere
3/18/2008 Adaptistration: Dynamic Consequences Taking Shape in Coloumbus
3/17/2008 Adaptistration: The War of the Rhetoric Begins
3/16/2008 Charles Noble: More Columbus Opinion
3/16/2008 Sam Bergman: No such thing as half way
3/15/2008 Copied from Dave Thomas in Facebook: Columbus Situation Dire
2/28/2008 Adaptistration: They're Playing Like There's No Tomorrow
2/19/2008 Adaptistration: Examining Columbus' Master Agreement Part 2
2/13/2008 Adaptistration: Examining Columbus' Master Agreement
2/12/2008 Adaptistration: Interview with Executive Director Tony Beadle
1/28/2008 Adaptistration: A Conductors View of the Orchestra: Junichi Hirokami
1/24/2008 Adaptistration: Esamining Dynamic Reactions in Columbus
1/27/2008 Adaptistration: Back to the Future in Columbus
1/21/2008 Adaptistration: Junichi Hirokami" Leading from the front in Columbus
1/19/2008 Charles Noble: Columbus Lost at Sea?
1/19/2008 Abu Bratche: Columbus schedules a disaster

Read the musicians' view of the CSO board's plan here Also see more information here 

New! Symphony Columbus Musicians' Blog    Symphony Columbus Website

SYMPHONYSTRONG.COM  is being discontinued.  Use SYMPHONYCOLUMBUS.COM instead

Message from David Thomas, Clarinet

Blog at Columbusunderground.

Musicians Leaving the Columbus Symphony, their local positions, and destinations:

Mark Morton Principal Bass; Capital University; American School of the Double Bass Texas Tech University, Lubbock
Wendy Morton Assistant Principal Cello;
Founding Member, Carpe Diem String Quartet; Capital & Ohio Wesleyan Universities
 
 Richard Bell Associate Principal Cello; member Seraphin Trio; Otterbein  
Jennifer Parker-Harley Second Flute; Otterbein  University of South Carolina
Anonymous 3 (per David Thomas' blog)
Anonymous 4 (per David Thomas' blog)

Local News

Symphony Musicians' Summer Series (7/3/2008) Fund Raiser at Mozart's July 23
Symphony Musicians Give Summer Concerts in Art Museum Scupture Garden (6/14/2008)
Ohio Arts Council buget cuts (6/4/2008)
Christopher Purdy: Arts Unscripted on summer hiatus (6/4/2008)
Upper Arlington prodigy Abhik Mazumder, one of 7 winners of the elementary division of the Bradshaw & Buono International Piano Competition, will play Carnegie Hall's Weill Recital Hall today.  (5/18/2008)
Arts Council to Skip Symphony (5/16/2008) Comments by David Thomas  Abu Bratche
The Reiziger Trio (Eric Gratz, violin; Stephanie Price, viola; Nate West, cello) from The Chamber Music Connection made the semi-finals at the Fischoff National Chamber Music competition. Debbie reports:

Fischoff went well, the trio advanced to the semi's which was awesome! Of course, they wish they had made it into the finals, but only three ensembles (in this case three string quartets) make it to the finals/medal round out of the original 24.

In any case, they played great and received many accolades from the judges, audience, Fischoff staff and students.  The judges told them they placed very high (4 or 5 out of 24) but what hurt them was the trio medium -- several said it was like apples and oranges - the trio repertoire just can't compare to the repertoire available to a string quartet.  There were 10 judges, and several of them indicated that the trio performed with the most maturity and artistry of the entire field. They were told they displayed "stunning artistry" and "mature presence" on stage. After hearing that, it's a little hard to swallow not advancing to the medal round, but the judges kept reiterating it had everything to do with the nature of the instrumentation of the ensemble  - violin, viola, bass as compared to the string quartet.

Congratulations! (5/12/2008)  Photos
Upper Arlington Community Orchestra gets grant from Hilliard Arts Council, becomes Greater Columbus Community  Orchestra
Symphony to Shut Down For Summer. Future Uncertain. (PDF of statement to musiciains) Dispatch. Early version.
CPRN To End Broadcasts
Special Event:  Choral Festival Concert on Friday June 6 at PM at First Congregational Church, during the Columbus Arts Festival. For more information, click here or contact Sheena Philips.  Participating groups include the First Church Choir, the Columbus Women's Choir, the International Ensemble of the Columbus Childrens's Choir, Capriccio!, the Magpie Consort, and members of the Dublin Singers.  The program will include a performance of the Missa Luba. Proceeds will benefit Doctors without Borders
BalletMet to Return to New York (5/1/2008)
WF: Despite Season Saving Gift, CSO & Musicians Far Apart (4/29/2008)
Ohio Arts Council Budget Cut Greater Columbus Arts Council distributes Grants (4/28/2008)
Two quartets from The Chamber Music Connection were among the six high school quartets invited to the finals of the St Paul String Quartet Competition held on April 19, 2008. The Viaggio String Quartet (a collaborative ensemble from Chamber Music Connection & Cleveland Institute of Music): Eric Gratz, Anthony Bracewell, violins; Stephanie Price, viola; Ken Kubota, cello) took FIRST PLACE! Congratulations!
 Photos
A string trio will compete in the Fischoff National Chamber Music Competition, May 9-11.
Violinist Michael Davis died on Sunday 03/02/2008 from Lou Gehrig's disease. Memorial concert at OSU on Monday, May 5 (Corrected).
Cincinnati Orchestra tours Europe and what it means for Cincinnati. How will Japanese business leaders feel about Columbus if the city allows Maestro Hirokami's orchestra to be dismembered?
CSO Assistant Concert Master David Niwa has returned home after his treatment for PMP, a rare form of cancer and has returned to the CSO full time. Additional cancer cells have been detected, but they are putting off another operation for a few months so that they can get as much of it as possible. Mariko, his wife, has a blog to keep everyone informed of his progress. Our best wishes for a continued speedy recovery.
Now available on Naxos: the first installment in the The Carpe Diem String Quartet's recording of the complete quartets of Russian composer Sergei Ivanovich Taneyev (1856-1915).

The first part of my study of chamber music, a detailed look at Haydn's Op. 20, is here.

Other News and Articles

7/14/2008 How musicians struggle to make a living
7/13/2008 BBC Proms July 18-Sept 13: Listen live or on demand for 7 days after each concert.
7/2/2008 Medical researcher discovers secret of Strads
7/1/2008 Watch Die Meistersinger live from Bayreuth on the internet on July 27, 2008 (for a price)
6/27/2008 Benjamin Zander on classical music
6/27/2008 Architect of success at SPCO forced to retire by illness
6/22/2008 medici.tv Streaming video of classical music concerts
6/20/2008 Met Opera: The Battleship Turns
6/18/2008 Joan Tower at 70
6/9/2008 Mechanical Dreams Come True
6/6/2008 Cleveland extends music director contract
6/4/2008 Pas de Pain
5/29/2008 Songs in the Key of Death
5/27/2008 Classical music cures high blood pressure
5/26/2008 Possible unknown works by Mozart found in Polish monastery
5/26/2008 A New Kind of Opera
5/23/2008 Making Noise: Percussion Players Tell Their Story
5/22/2008 Classical Musicians Learn to Improvise
5/21/2008 Time out for Bach
5/21/2008 Steinway buys ArkivMusic
5/21/2008 Claudius Conrad: A Musician Who Performs with a Scalpel
5/21/2008 New Era Brings Buzz (and Big Budgets) to the Met
5/20/2008 James Conlon's Thoughts about culture in our country
5/20/2008 A sound artist hears symphonies in ambient noise
5/20/2008 Tough times call for tougher music
5/19/2008 Buitoni Uses Dough From Pasta, Sauce to Make Beautiful Music
5/18/2008 The best meals and the best music make up a menu for the senses
5/16/2008 Fields of Endevor: Arts vs Sports
5/13/2008 NEA Launches National Opera Awards
5/13/2008 Music transforms kids and towns in remote area of Bolivia
5/12/2008 Philippe Quint rings Joshua's Bell
5/7/2008 A Midget Among Giants: Why doesn't amazon.com support Seattle arts?
5/7/2008 '70s Quartet reunites to celebrate Messiaen
5/7/2008 Concerto in the key of G, for Grateful
5/6/2008 Loud pieces put orchestra musicians' hearing at risk
5/6/2008 New CSO Director Has Star Power
5/6/2008 And the Brass Ring Goes to Chicago Symphony: Riccardo Muti Says Yes
5/6/2008  Smirnoff new president of Cleveland Institute of Music
5/5/2008 Muti Takes Helm of Chicago Symphony
5/5/2008 A Moving Stillness: In Closeups Classic Stars Did Much by Doing Nothing
5/5/2008 Professional Sacrifices Define the Lives of Orchestra Musicians
5/5/2008 More Power to the Performer
5/5/2008 Is Ballet's Future in America?
5/4/2008 Planning an Opera?
5/4/2008 Saudi First: Mixed Audiemce for Public Concert by German Ensemble
5/3/2008 Alex Ross: The Bretano Quartet Performs Late Works
5/2/2008 Gramophone plans major expansion of website
4/13/2008 Orchestra Confidential-Symphonic Life from the Inside Out
5/2/2008 More power to the performer
5/2/2008 Too Much Of A Good Thing 

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Early Music



Summer 2008 Mini Season
Friday June 20, 2008 Humtington Recital Hall Good Pennyworths Love, Lust, Longing, Loss:
Songs for Renaissance Lute
Friday July 11, 2008 Humtington Recital Hall Ron Cook Jongleur

Early Music in Columbus 2008-2009 Season
October 10, 2008 La Gente d'Orfeo Passion and Repose: A 17th-century Musical Extravaganza
November 21, 2008 at Pontifical College Josephinum Rose Ensemble Celebremos Nino: A Mexican Baroque Christmas
January 9-11, 2009 at Pontifical College Josephinum Early Interval A British 12th Night Celebration
February 20, 2009 Venere Lute Quartet TBA
March 20, 2009 Lucidarium Music and Poetry of Jews in Renaissance Italy
May 8, 2009 Early Interval TBA



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Chamber Music


Chamber Music Columbus 2008-2009 Season
October 25, 2008 Marc-André Hamelin, piano
  • Haydn Sonata in F Major H XVI:23
  • Haydn Sonata in E Major H XVI:31
  • Alexis Weissenberg Sonata in a State of Jazz
  • Chopin Barcarolle in F-Sharp Major Op 60
  • Chopin Ballade No 3 in A-Flat Major Op 47
  • Marc-André Hamelin Etude No 8 Erlkoenig (after Goethe)
  • Marc-André Hamelin Etude No 7 (after Tchaikovsky)
  • Leopold Godowsky Symphonic Metamorphosis on Johann Strauss' "Wine, Women, and Song"
November 15, 2008 Claremont Piano Trio
  • Haydn Trio in G Major H XV:25
  • Paul Shoenfield Cafe Music
  • Dvorák Trio No 3 in F Minor Op 65
November 29, 2008 Guarneri String Quartet (Farewell Tour)
  • Beethoven Quartet No 12 in E-Flat Major Op 127
  • Beethoven Quartet No 15 in A Minor Op 132
January 31, 2009 Fine Arts Quartet
  • Beethoven Quartet No 5 in A Major Op 18 No 5
  • Bernard Herrmann Echos
  • Schumann Quartet No 1 in A Minor Op 41 No 1
March 14, 2009 Dorian Wind Quintet
with Caroline Hong, piano and Katharine Borst Jones, flute
  • Beethoven Quintet in E-Flat Major Op 16
  • Mozart Quintet in E-Flat Major K542
  • Yuko Uebayashi Au dela du Temps, for 2 flutes and piano
April 4, 2009 Ysa˙e Quartet
  • Fauré Quartet in E Minor Op 121
  • Bartok Quartet No 6
  • Frank Quartet in D Major
Friday, May 15, 2009 at 7:30PM at Sanborn Hall, Delaware Cavani String Quartet
  • TBA




Jefferson Academy 2007-2008 Season
October 14, 2007 Aviv String Quartet
  • Mozart String Quartet No 17 in B-flat Major K458 "Hunt"
  • Shostakovich String Quartet No 8
  • Shostakovich String Quartet No 2
November 4, 2007 St. Petersburg String Quartet
  • Debussy String Quartet in G Minor Op 10
  • Shostakovich String Quartet No 7 in F-Sharp Major Op 108
  • Tchaikovsky String Quartet No 2 in F Major Op 22
February 17, 2008 Johannes Moser, cello
  • TBA
March 30, 2008 Jupiter String Quartet
  • TBA