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ATL SYMPHONY MUSICIANS

Letter for our Symphony

9/15/2012

14 Comments

 
Dear Ms. Virginia Hepner and members of the WAC Executive Board,

I am a native of Atlanta and know well the history of the Atlanta Memorial Art Center as one of my relatives was killed in the Orly Plane crash. These were cultural leaders who died trying to bring some culture and art into their new beloved city. The Atlanta Memorial Arts Center was built to honor those who died and to create cultural awareness in our city. Management of a large city orchestra and its parent company WAC should step back and think about the origins of The Atlanta Memorial Arts Center and what it meant and means to us.

This is one reason I am so horribly disappointed that the WAC and the ASO have come to the point where they are using the artists, who are the reason citizens of this city come to the arts center, as the scapegoats in their financial debacle. The artists do not make budgetary decisions on guest soloists and conductors. They are not the ones who decided to build Verizon even though they already had years of proof with Chastain that it would not be a moneymaker. These decisions rest entirely with the top managers who certainly seem to have comfortable salaries and bonuses.

Nor was it the musicians’ choice to be stuck playing in antiquated Symphony Hall.

 This multi-purpose hall still looks the way I remember it looking like back in the late 60s! The over the top design for the new hall never made it off the ground. I’m sure the architect, Calatrava as wonderfully talented and famous as he is didn’t come cheap. Wouldn’t it have been wonderful if real thought, planning, and a practical budget had gone into designing a new space, which could have been a reasonably attainable goal? Then perhaps Atlanta audiences could experience the true sound of our orchestra. I heard a different orchestra when they played Carnegie Hall. I was astounded that we have an orchestra of such talent, but they are left to play in the horrible acoustics of our multi-purpose Symphony Hall, which looks all too similar to school auditoriums and joint cafeterias all the way down to the flag in the corner and the vanilla paint. Until very recently the conductor of our world renown orchestra conducted from a stand made of plywood. While that has finally been upgraded, the orchestra members still sit on unpainted plywood platforms. This is how our musicians are treated. Atlanta has no idea of the talent we are so fortunate to have. An orchestra such as this takes many years of practice and of being together in order to blend and to anticipate each other’s reactions to produce the kind of sound we are privileged to hear.  It seems the WAC has been able to remodel its offices twice in the not so distant past yet Symphony Hall, which the ASO has RENTED from WAC for almost 50 years, is left with nothing.

So is it any wonder that of course all the deficits and financial difficulties are put on the musicians. For the musicians’ proposals and supporters’ questions and desires for this unfortunate and futile lock out to end, the only response from management is the same rote version, carefully worded with miscalculated errors, which neglect to tell the real story. The musicians received raises, which they then gave back, twice I believe in 2009 and in 2010. But there is no mention of those sacrifices. Did the ASO management also give back raises? I’m betting no. You talk about what you provide for the musicians, what about their instruments? Instruments are not provided like businesses provide computers, cars, homes and expense accounts.  Do you realize the cost of their instruments would make most corporations weak in the knees just thinking about the cost of even relatively good instruments, not to mention the phenomenal instruments we have the opportunity to hear played with decades of experience. This country is tired of greedy management who waste money and spends unwisely and then blames others to get away with their mistakes. You all paint a picture of musicians who hardly work for their money and get everything in return. So, whom are you all going to get to take their places when the crème of the ASO leave for other orchestras where they will be appreciated? Do you think audiences will flock to a small pared down orchestra? Do you think the arts in Atlanta will be a selling point for tourists and business travelers and companies?

The Atlanta we so enjoy today is because of men like Robert Woodruff, Richard Rich and Ivan Allen. These men made Atlanta a place to love and be proud of. They believed in what was good for Atlanta was good for them – the businessmen of Atlanta were the business leaders of Atlanta who generously donated to charitable and civic organizations. Now… it is all “what is in it for me?” No wonder Atlanta is no longer a place to be proud of, a place that business is fighting to move to, or a place where the arts – a gracious form of entertainment that has been loved for centuries is now something that if lost,” isn’t a big deal”?

So, the musicians offered to again take a cut in pay, but why is it so unreasonable for management to do the same. If not all management then the one’s at the top. How about doing what Ivan Allen would do at meetings. He would have Robert Woodruff’s generous support then all the rest of the movers and shakers of the city would happily join in to contribute, because it is the right thing to do. Surely you all should be able to think of other solutions. Sell the property for the new hall that has no plans to be built, sell Verizon Wireless and court and inspire more corporate donors. If anyone should be able to do this I would think it would be the Woodruff Arts Center. You all should be able to appreciate the irony of how in 2012, 50 years after the Orly plane crash, it is the Woodruff Art Center management who will change and possibly destroy the art and culture started in the building you are custodians of. The very building that was built to encourage the arts and lead Atlanta in appreciation and love of great artistic talent. I hope you all can be proud and live with your legacy.

Sincerely.

M. Wyatt

Patron of the Art

14 Comments
Luann Nelson
9/16/2012 01:40:36 am

Wonderful letter! I believe in my heart that Ivan Allen and Robert Woodruff would never have allowed the situation to occur, but they were giants. Apparently Atlanta has no giants of their kind anymore.

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adam schommer
9/16/2012 01:40:36 am

To the Board of directors: Take the advice of this letter. The Atlanta Symphony deserves your support, not your grandiose delusions.

Reply
Allison Jones
9/16/2012 05:25:00 am

Thanks M.Wyatt! I hope your letter merits a response, but I have a feeling we all are dealing with deaf ears in more ways than one. Very sad for Atlanta.

Reply
so very well said - and many points covered here. Thank you, M. Wyatt.
9/16/2012 08:45:05 am

Reply
Laura Estes
9/16/2012 10:05:28 am

What a beautifully written letter. As a band teacher for 31 years, it is hard to fathom what the Board of Directors is putting our city through musically. Take the advice of the letter and stop blaming the symphony musicians for problems that were created by YOU. This has had a ripple-effect throughout our local musical arena and it needs to stop. Shame on you.

Reply
brice andrus
9/16/2012 10:47:19 am

Thank you for an amazingly thoughtful and insightful letter. The views expressed are exactly what I have observed as a nativer Atlantan and long-time musician in the ASO. Prior to construction of the Verizon Amphitheater the mission of the orchestra was always clear....Perform great music at the highest level and be a source of civic pride for all Atlantans, in spite of the lack of support of the Woodruff Arts Center. It appears that in recent years, the lack of commitment to artistic excellence has grown exponentially, driven by a "bottom line" mentality.
The arts have seldom been profit driven. The fabulous museums, cathedrals, and performances the WAC board members enjoy on their trips to Europe or major American cities exist because of civic pride and philanthropy. not "for profit enterprises".It is time for the Woodruff Arts Center to find the courage to face the fact that it has lost it's way. It is failing in it's service to the community, has made many poor financial decisions, and must to take steps to preserve what it has left.
Atlanta's civic and business leaders need to come forward and demand accountability of the WAC and determine how it is spending (or wasting), the generous gifts of it's donors.
The current message to the musicians of the ASO, and musicians around the country, is a clear one..."the WAC has no interest is sustaining top level orchestra, and there is no future for you here". I have been through many ups and downs in my 45 years in the ASO, but nothing this draconian . I have never seen a climate in which so many players are actively seeking employment elsewhere. I cannot emphasize how urgent the situation is. Management's depiction of this as "tough love" and a "little bump in the road" is ludicrous. The future of the Atlanta Symphony is great peril.

Brice Andrus
Principal Horn, Atlanta Symphony Orchestra

Reply
Sean Neal
9/16/2012 02:04:18 pm

I Proudly worked as a Stagehand for the ASO for nine years. I can attest for the truth in this letter above. Every show I was a part of there were around five people from Management off stage. The Management at the ASO makes certain that their salaries are a great reflection of their success. Even in tough financial times.

When Spano was brought to Atlanta, he insisted on bringing a Technical Director from New York with him. The TD that he championed commanded a high salary. A salary so high that the TD would be making more than the Vice President of the ASO. The solution was to give the VP a raise.

In conclusion if the WAC wants to bring Music and Culture to citizens and children of this great city. Management should take a cut in pay just like the Musicians have done. Maybe even question if they really need all of those in management. I personally know the show will go on without all of the suits off stage.

Sean Neal
Vice President IATSE Local 927

Reply
Keith Jeffords, MD
9/16/2012 11:48:22 pm

I might also comment that the Atlanta Symphony management did NOTHING to commemorate the 50th Anniversary of this tragedy this past June 2012. The orchestra played Tchaikovsky's 5th Symphony on that date without mention in the program. I can't believe there wasn't a Memorial Concert on this date to remember this event. Without this plane crash, the Atlanta Symphony and tne Memorial Arts Center would not have the same prominence as it has today.

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Luann Nelson
9/17/2012 12:35:57 am

There was a dinner commemorating the Orly crash, I believe on Sunday, June 3. My son, who was in the youth orchestra, and a number of other ASYO players were asked to participate. But I agree it would have been better to have a public event as well as a private function. Georgia natives who grew up active in music know about this pivotal event but many younger people and newcomers know little or nothing about it.

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Angela Allen Sherzer
9/17/2012 06:55:12 am

What a beautifully written letter. I do hope that management at WAC will read this and take this writer's advice. Sacrifice is a two-way street. The musicians should not be the scapegoats for poor management. We have a world class orchestra with excellent musicians who play in a mediocre hall. I fear that we will lose many of these wonderful players to orchestras who value their talents more than the WAC management seems to do. Please do not let this happen!!! A world-class city deserves a world-class orchestra!!! We love our Atlanta Symphony Orchestra!!

Reply
M.Wyatt
9/17/2012 09:46:37 am

Thank you all for such nice comments about my letter. I was looking at the likes of 650+ Wow! But what I wish is there was a share button! Just think how the word could be spread if there were that many shares on F B. I have realized in talking to people.... NO ONE knows about this horrible situation. The six people I saw today had not heard a word.... I don't think many read the AJC or listen to local news! So for the powers to feel pressure, the public Really needs to know! So if any of those who liked .... want to copy and paste and share on F B I think that would be a great way to spread the word and drum up support.

Reply
M.Wyatt
9/19/2012 04:41:40 am

Very Disappointed. Today I received the "form" letter from Stanley Romanstein. It was addressed to my email name not how the letter is signed. I guess he didn't have time to read the letter..... Not very professional to say the least.

Reply
M.Wyatt
9/20/2012 04:25:07 am

So Stanley Romanstein did NOT read my letter, it just went to a secretary who sends out form letters. I had hoped for better. Letters to the heads of organizations and to board members used to mean something. In his interview titled "In Transition" talking about what is needed for orchestras to survive he says :
"but we really exist for the consumer, for the audience, for people who are passionate about music and who are going to come down here on a Thursday, Friday, Saturday or Sunday for that live music performance. What if all our decisions were really oriented around what they need and what they want as opposed to what we want out of them? And it was one of those, “Oh but we do that.” “No you don’t. You want to think you do, but you don’t.”
Well he certainly proves he doesn't! Very sad and disappointing, if you are not going to listen to patrons,donors and sponsors - who are you listening to? Who are you doing this for if not yourself?

Reply
Lynda Martin
9/21/2012 11:31:05 am

ASO Musicians and dear friends, I am leaving now to attend the wonderful concert I know I'm about to experience. I am not a good wordsmith, but just want to say (until I can find the adequate voice to write you something more meaningful).....that you are loved, thought of constantly and supported in all this. I cannot even imagine the hurt and the frustration you all feel. Your ASOC friends who stand behind you are mobilizing to do what we can. We are honored to share the stage with you and thank you for those opportunites. I send you much love - each and every one of you. Many prayers are being offered up on your behalf. Hang in there. See you shortly.

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