Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Video
Minnesota Orchestra Musicians Negotiations FAQ
Minnesota Orchestra Board of Directors Orchestra Hall, 1111 Nicollet Mall, Minneapolis MN 55403
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Today is the Summer Solstice, the longest day for the 364 days prior and the 364 days to follow. For those of us who love the Minnesota Orchestra it's been a very long year, and all that is ahead is uncertainty.
I'm one of those who each year have filled the seats at Orchestra Hall. We've all been dis-enfranchised by the near one year Lock Out of the Musicians and the Audience by the Minnesota Orchestra Management.
When this Lock Out is settled, as it will be, some day, even if soon, it will take years, if ever, for the Orchestra to recover. How do you rebuild a proud ensemble of gifted artists you've just destroyed? I won't accept, "all good. Sure the Union is history, but let's be friends again....", or the like. There has been, likely, irreparable harm, and not just within the Orchestra itself.
What's one to do? In my view, we audience members don't reward the bad behavior of the Orchestra Board and it's management by quietly accepting what is happening.
I invite you to join me, as individuals who enjoyed the Minnesota Orchestra, to act.
Here's what I'm going to do: Until the Minnesota Orchestra Musicians, through their Union, encourage me to return to Orchestra Hall or to Orchestra programs, I will not pay for nor attend any event at Minnesota Orchestra Hall, nor any other event scheduled by the current management or Board of the Orchestral Association.
I speak solely as an individual...a single "grain of sand".
As a group of individuals, we can make a big difference.
About those of us who look forward to the Minnesota Orchestra:
We represent a small chunk of Minnesotans. Most people don't identify with the Orchestra as a community asset, so this tragedy is an easy issue for the public to ignore. We as audience must act. The issue is in our court.
The Orchestra and its audience are inseparable. Apparently an average of 1600 of us have filled the seats. Together we are immensely powerful. The Orchestra has been an important part of this communities quality of life for more than a century and it has been recognized for its quality world wide. We are part of this Orchestra's success, and potentially party to its failure if we don't take a stand.
We weren't part of the problem; nonetheless we have to be part of the solution.
We are well advised to be very skeptical of "true" "facts" as conveyed through the traditional means: mailings from the Orchestra management; the downtown Minneapolis structure, including the Star Tribune, etc.
About me:
1. Best as I can recall, I first attended a Minnesota Orchestra Concert at Orchestra Hall in the Fall of 1978.
2. We have been six-concert subscribers for many years, generally fourth row center.
3. Each year we would attend a number of other events at the hall, including Sommerfest, special concerts, and the like. We know 1111 Nicollet Mall and vicinity....
4. I have paid attention to this controversy since it began. The Lock Out has affected us personally. We paid for tickets to attend Concerts, not to ask for refunds periodically.
5. I have no formal or informal standing in this controversy, other than as a subscriber. On the other hand, I spent an entire career in labor-management matters, and I know how the process works.
Previous Posts on this topic can be found at my regular blog spot OutsideTheWalls.org/blog, at October 18 (two posts) and December 7, 2012, and June 5, 2013.
