Here are links to testimonies given by Carole Mason Smith of the St. Paul Chamber Orchestra and Mark Thoson and Sarah Nagle of Save Our SPCO.
And so concludes the transcriptions! I hope they were helpful to you in some capacity, regardless what “side” you’re on.
I’ll offer my thoughts…at some point. I’m not sure when. I’d like to let them percolate a bit first. In the meantime, what do you think?
Filed under Labor Disputes
This testimony was given by Laurie Greeno, co-chair of Orchestrate Excellence, in front of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives on 23 January 2013. Rep. Joe Atkins chaired. You can listen to Ms. Greeno’s testimony here. It begins at roughly 47:30.
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LG: Chair Atkins, ladies and gentlemen of the committee, thank you for considering the impact of the lockouts on our communities and the state of Minnesota. I’m Laurie Greeno, co-chair of Orchestrate Excellence, an independent coalition of over a thousand community members, donors, and concertgoers. In the last few weeks, this group of concerned citizens has formed to give voice to the tremendous economic, educational, and artistic repercussions of the Minnesota Orchestra lockout.
Filed under Labor Disputes, Minnesota Orchestra
This testimony by Minnesota Orchestra musician Doug Wright was given to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives on 23 January 2013. Rep. Joe Atkins chaired.
You can listen to Doug Wright’s testimony here. It begins at 28:10, directly after Mr. Henson’s testimony. Mr. Wright appeared in front of the committee with his coworkers Tony Ross, Cathy Schubilske, and Burt Hara.
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DW: Thank you, Representative Atkins and committee members for your public service and your attention to the impact of lockouts in our region. My name is Douglas Wright, and I am proud to have been the principal trombonist of the Minnesota Orchestra for the past eighteen years. During that time, I, along with my team here, have played literally thousands of concerts for millions of people here in Minnesota, throughout the nation, and around the world. From Minneapolis to Bemidji, St. Paul to St. Cloud, and Pipestone to Roseville, the Minnesota Orchestra has had the privilege to bring world-class performances of great music all over our great state. The Minnesota Orchestra has also had the honor of representing our fine state throughout the United States and abroad, and we’ve been proud to bring home critical acclaim and recognition for our efforts. After our 2010 performance with Osmo at Carnegie Hall, one of the most respected critics in our industry, Alex Ross of The New Yorker, went so far as to call the Minnesota Orchestra the greatest orchestra in the world.
Filed under Labor Disputes, Minnesota Orchestra
For part one of this series, click here.
This was testimony given to the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives on 23 January 2013.
You can listen to Mr. Henson’s testimony here. It begins at 22:15.
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Rep. Atkins: There was I think a good reference to the fact that there are other lockouts taking place. Each time this issue seems to be talked about it’s in the context of the NHL lockout. Whenever I’ve spoken about it, however, I’ve talked about there’s a number of additional lockouts involving musicians, involving American Crystal Sugar up in Moorhead, and we’ve been joined next by Michael Henson, who’s the President of the Minnesota Orchestral Association. I appreciate your joining us this afternoon. Look forward to hearing your testimony, as well.
Michael Henson: Mr. Chair, and Representatives. Thank you very much. I appreciate the opportunity to address the committee today, and I will offer a brief statement.
Filed under Labor Disputes, Minnesota Orchestra
As just about everyone who has been following Orchestral Apocalypse ‘012-‘013 knows, the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee of the Minnesota House of Representatives held a hearing on January 23rd in St. Paul to explore the impact of lockouts on our community. Everyone who was anyone was there: Minnesota Orchestral Association CEO Michael Henson! (this was a surprise; no one was expecting him) – Doug Wright from the musicians’ negotiating committee! – Carol Mason Smith representing the SPCO musicians! – representatives of Save Our SPCO! – representatives of Orchestrate Excellence! – heck, even Dobby was there! (although, rather bewilderingly, he chose to attend but apparently not to testify…? Odd.)
You can listen to and/or download the mp3 of the hearing here. Perhaps ironically for a musician, I absorb things better when I read them opposed to when I hear them, so I prepared a transcript of everyone’s remarks. I’m a fast typist and I had some spare time, so…yeah. I will devote one entry to each person’s testimony. I’m also planning a couple of entries devoted to analyzing what was all said (particularly by Mr. Henson), but those will come separately and later.
Rep. Joe Atkins, the chair of the Commerce and Consumer Protection Committee, began the meeting with the following words.
Filed under Labor Disputes, Minnesota Orchestra
Many people have been asking when lawmakers will be holding hearings about the finances of the Minnesota Orchestra and/or St. Paul Chamber Orchestra.
Well, I have a concrete date for one hearing. This hearing will focus on the economic effect lockouts have had on the community. Here’s the press release describing it. It talks a lot about the NHL, but the Minnesota Orchestra and SPCO will be discussed as well…
Filed under Labor Disputes, Minnesota Orchestra
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Song of the Lark 