By Pete Vriesenga
The Scientific & Cultural Facilities District was adopted by Metro-Denver voters in 1988. “Quality” was SCFD’s first and foremost committment to voters who were told that eligible organizations must participate in a competitive grant application process. In many respects this committment was set into law with SCFD’s statutory requirement of adherence to the [...]
Authors, Legislative, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical
The Cherry Creek Chorale has provided welcome employment for DMA members for many years. These productions are costly and we are forever grateful for CCC’s efforts to stage such events and hope they can continue into the future.
But, as stated in CCC’s 2011-12 Season Flyer, CCC has engaged the Boulder Symphony Orchestra (BSO) for [...]
Labor, Legislative, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical, Uncategorized
The Lone Tree Arts Commission was established by the City of Lone Tree in 1999 to promote public awareness of fine and performing arts within the City. Funding for the LTAC comes in part from the City of Lone Tree, and also from the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District which provides approximately $75,000 annually. The Lone Tree Symphony, for example, receives more than $40,0000 annually in grant awards from LTAC. With additional funding from Douglas County SCFD, 80% of Lone Tree Symphony’s annual budget now comes from “government grants.” Government support for symphony orchestras as a national average is is just 4%.
Legislative, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical, Uncategorized
Mr. McNeil,
Your closing statement: “There is nothing so useless as doing efficiently that which should not be done at all” suggests that our community “should not” question authority of the SCFD board that oversees distribution of $40 million annually in public funds. Your readers should also know that Peter Drucker, author of your statement, also wrote “QUESTION AUTHORITY The Five Most Important Questions You Will Ever Ask About Your Organization.” I recommend that you read Drucker’s book, and also recommend that you start quoting authors when you use their material in the future.
Legislative, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical
I posted an announcement and commentary on March 22nd entitled: Please attend SCFD’s public meeting on March 24, 2011. My hope was to let our community of professional musicians know that our industry is again in jeopardy because of irresponsible decisions of the SCFD board and administrators. Apparently my announcement was successful, as measured by the fact that all remaining chairs in the meeting room were taken by very concerned musicians. Most were members of the Colorado Chamber Orchestra (CCO).
Legislative, Local Discussion, Pete Vriesenga, Symphonic/Classical
Labor protests in Wisconsin and across the Midwest have shown once again that public protest is often our only tool to reverse bad policy & legislation. There’s no shortage of bad policy that is dragging our local industry down and the worst offender continues to be the Scientific & Cultural Facilities District (SCFD). As in Wisconsin, we have no option but to stand up collectively to SCFD’s anti-labor practices or suffer the consequences as work opportunities continue to erode. The occasion for our show of solidarity will be a public SCFD meeting on Thursday, March 24 at 1:00 PM. We need as many DMA members to show as we can possibly turn out.
Labor, Local Discussion, The Denver Musician
Every summer, residents of Lone Tree, CO and neighboring communities enjoy a free concert by the Colorado Symphony Orchestra. These concerts are presented in Sweetwater Park by the City of Lone Tree, but this coming summer the Lone Tree Symphony Orchestra(a volunteer community orchestra) will replace the CSO. A CSO file photo still adorns the Lone Tree Summer Concerts website, but now accompanies a July 24 listing for the LTSO.
Labor, Local Discussion, Symphonic/Classical
Hundreds of musicians and their union brothers and sisters formed picket lines and distributed leaflets in front of Bass Performance Hall in Fort Worth, in protest of Texas Ballet Theater’s canned music policy. Demonstrators inflated a giant rat balloon to draw attention to musicians’ concerns. Demonstrations were held Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 27, 28 and 29, 2009 prior to the start of the company’s Cleopatra performances.
The ballet company outsourced its orchestra pit during last weekend’s performances of “Canned Cleopatra,” replacing musicians with a recording it made in China.
Click on subject title to read on:
Electronic Media, Labor, Legislative, Local Discussion, National Discussion, Symphonic/Classical
an interview with Tom Jensen
It defies all logic and reason how a performing arts organization could even think of presenting classical ballet on the stage of a $400 million facility in a major population center… without orchestra. Sure enough, this very silly show opens this Friday evening, March 27, amid protesting musicians and 50 area labor unions who are uniting to fight this fraud and injustice.
Click on subject title to read on:
Feature/Interview, Local Discussion, National Discussion, Symphonic/Classical
A DMA (Denver Musicians Association) member called me yesterday asking if it was necessary to buy liability coverage for his band. He was offered a gig to provide lunchtime entertainment in a public square for a downtown business. This is the first time he’s been asked to show liability coverage, so he was curious how to respond.
Local Discussion, National Discussion, Pete Vriesenga
Recent Comments