ICSOM Conference: ICSOM Cannot Be Silenced

"ICSOM: Music Cannot Be Silenced" was the theme of the 51st International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) Conference in Kansas City, Missouri, August 21-24. In his opening remarks, ICSOM Chair Bruce Ridge (North Carolina Symphony, Local 500) lamented that Congress has threatened to cut funding to the National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) by 50%, yet the NEA has been without a chair since May. ICSOM was actively involved in helping to establish the NEA, and it should not be silent now. Ridge called on President Obama to immediately appoint a new NEA chair; ICSOM delegates adopted a resolution encouraging the same.

This years theme was also chosen because ICSOM orchestras dealt with significant lockouts this past season: Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra was locked out for five weeks resulting in a five-year agreement; Atlanta Symphony Orchestra was locked out for four weeks and ratified a two-year agreement; and The Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra was in negotiations for 17 months, locked out for 191 days, and accepted a three-year agreement. All three took significant cuts to wages, season length, vacation weeks, and orchestra size.

Meanwhile, October marks an entire year the Minnesota Orchestra has been locked out. Indianapolis Committee Chair Richard Graef of Local 3, Atlanta Committee Member and ICSOM Treasurer and Delegate Michael Moore of Local 148-462, and Saint Paul Committee Member and ICSOM Delegate Leslie Shank of Local 30-73 each spoke about their orchestras experience. Local 30-73 President Brad Eggen introduced Shank and Minnesota Orchestra negotiating committee members Tim Zavadil, Kevin Watkins, and Marcia Peck who, along with their PR consultant Blois Olson, updated delegates.

After 10 years, ICSOM welcomed a new voice to its ranks-Grand Rapids Symphony became the 52nd member orchestra of ICSOM.

Randy Whatley, president of Cypress Media Group, assisted the Atlanta Symphony Orchestra during their lockout last season. His presentation on the first day and workshop on day two were designed to help musicians create and utilize both old and new media forums to communicate their message to their communities.

Our hosts, the Kansas City Symphony (KCS), Local 34-627, and KCS Member and ICSOM President Brian Rood of Local 34-627, were celebrated for their recent successes. Fifteen years ago KCS musicians successfully achieved an AFM contract. This season they announced a new, progressive settlement one year early. Their new concert hall-Helzberg Hall in the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts-was rented by KCS the first evening and its members performed Mozart Symphony 31 for delegates and guests, who were also treated to a tour of the hall. Trolleys carried guests from the hotel to the Kauffman Center and back for a wonderful mixer afterward.

Mark Lindsay, chair of the American Symphonic Advocacy Project (ASAP), shared tips on lobbying legislators, officials, and other influential community leaders to support orchestras locally and nationally. He also took questions during a private Town Hall meeting with delegates. ICSOM General Counsel Susan Martin presented a follow-up to the 2011 Delegate Duel. Evening breakout sessions covered healthcare reform, musician-board participation, over-scale issues, and public relations, plus there was a comprehensive pension discussion. Sessions were led by AFM Symphonic Services Division (SSD) Counsel Rochelle Skolnick, SSD Negotiator Nathan Kahn, Musician and Artist Labor Lawyer Kevin Case, Randy Whatley, and AFM-EPF Trustee Bill Moriarity.

We said farewell to Cathy Payne (San Francisco Symphony, Local 6) who stepped down after six years as member-at-large on the governing board. Gail Kruvand (New York City Opera Orchestra, Local 802) was elected to a two-year term as memberat-large. ICSOM President Brian Rood, Secretary Laura Ross (Nashville Symphony Orchestra), and Member-at-Large Matthew Comerford (Chicago Lyric Opera Orchestra, Local 10-208) were all re-elected for two-year terms.

The following resolutions were adopted: condemning boards for bad behavior, supporting Minnesota Orchestra musicians, thanking conductors and artists who assisted ICSOM members during their lockouts, offering support for a new AFM Bylaw regarding the AFM-EPF, honoring Cathy Paynes service to ICSOM and Shirley Helzberg for her 18 years of service as chair of the KCS board, and recognizing and congratulating the Young Musicians of Minnesota.

Ten years ago, then-deleg ate Bruce Ridge challenged ICSOM to hold conferences in different host cities. The 2014 ICSOM Conference will be hosted by the Los Angeles Philharmonic and Local 47. Delegates accepted the invitation from The Philadelphia Orchestra and Local 66 to host the 2015 conference. Washington D.C., Buffalo, and Puerto Rico have been offered as future conference sites. Neither ICSOM, nor our music will be silenced.

by Laura Ross, ICSOM Secretary and Member of Local 257 (Nashville TN)