From David Thomas: Letter to the Citizens of Columbus

“The mission of the Columbus Symphony is to develop and foster the art of orchestral music at the highest possible artistic level. Through its concerts, outreach, and educational activities, it is a community resource that is a major component of the quality of life in Central Ohio.” -From the Columbus Symphony Management Strategic Plan

“…The board, musicians and community must work together (because) Columbus deserves and needs this orchestra,” -Anne Melvin, Columbus Symphony Trustee, Columbus Dispatch, 1/18/08

“The foundation of the ARTS in Columbus is the Symphony. It’s the treasure that supports the Opera, the Ballet, and educational programs for children in the public schools.” -Joann Foucht, Women’s Association of the Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Columbus Dispatch, 1/28/08

“Last night’s brilliant performance by this maestro and this orchestra made believers out of everyone: The Hirokami Era has begun.” -Barbara Zuck, Columbus Dispatch

“…In six years I can make this orchestra one of the best.” -Junichi Hirokami, NY Times, 4/12/08

“…Business leaders and artists throughout the nation (are) watching Columbus. They… hope to see a demonstration of confidence in the future of this city.” -Bruce Ridge, Chair, International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians (ICSOM) Letter to Editor, Columbus Dispatch, 2/6/08

To the Citizens and Leadership of Columbus-

The world is watching Columbus as the Symphony Board of Trustees and Management request large cuts from an orchestra whose members are performing with world class quality. The orchestra took 11% pay cuts three years ago, now restored, to help shore up sagging financial support following a lengthy period without an Artistic or Executive Director. Better results were promised. Now management insists on 40% salary cuts to stabilize the organization.

A gem of cultural pride, loved by Columbus audiences, the Symphony as we know it would not survive these cuts.

The people of Greater Columbus Community know and appreciate the exemplary quality of the Symphony. A flood of supportive letters to the Dispatch has demonstrated this. Our fine Orchestra contributes to the vitality of downtown, both economically and culturally. Thousands of people attend regular concerts, enriched by the unique experience of live classical music. Thousands more benefit from the outreach and education fostered by the members of the Symphony.

In the past decade, total non-musician expenses have increased an average of 7% per year, while total musician expenses increased only 4% per year. In fact, the percentage for musician costs actually went down from 47% of the total budget in the ‘99-’00 season to 39% in ‘05-’06. Musician costs for the ‘06-’07 season were around 42%, at the low end of the national average of 40-50%. (*-source footnote)

The current total musician expenses amount to about $5.4 million out of a $12.4 million budget.* Why not maintain the heart of the orchestra, its musicians, and create a satisfactory budget built on that? Untapped gold mines of volunteers are eager to help. Grassroots organizations can generate untold support and revenue. Several burgeoning efforts are already proving their value. As a community let’s move into action and make it happen.

The Greater Columbus Community accomplishes great things with the right leadership. We need the right leadership to step forward and rescue this gem for our city.

“Across the country, exciting things are happening for symphony orchestras. …attendance is up, downloads are rising faster than for any other musical genre, …and the New York Times is proclaiming that this could be “the Golden Age for Classical Music.” - Bruce Ridge, Chair, ICSOM

I encourage you to be a part of the exciting things that are happening for symphony orchestras. Together we can make this happen.

Respectfully,
David H Thomas
Principal Clarinet
Columbus Symphony Orchestra

“I still want to believe there’s a solution out there.” Tony Beadle, Executive Director, Columbus Symphony Orchestra, Dispatch, 3/14/08

(* Sources- Total income and expense figures from audit reports provided by the CSO; Total musician expense figures from expense statements provided by the CSO)

From David Thomas to CSO Supporters

Friends, things are not going well. I beg your attention for a few minutes while I report the "unreported" events surrounding the arts crisis in Columbus. These are my opinions and not the official view of our committee representatives.

I am convinced our orchestra, the Columbus Symphony, which has been built to world class level in the past 56 years, will be decimated by the insidious restructuring "plan" (fire 22 and cut salary 30%) forcefully proposed by the board of trustees and management. Many musicians (including myself) will leave, seeking better work elsewhere. Lives and careers will be ruined. The music will be gone.

Recently, there have been several articles in the local newspaper announcing the city and county's intentions (Thrive in Five) to set aside funds for arts organizations in Columbus. Unfortunately those promised funds have not changed the tenor of the board's official attitude toward the symphony. In fact, I believe they give false hope to those who support the orchestra. Truth is, there has been no indication that the "plan" will be altered or discarded.

Two other articles have appeared in the Dispatch, one announcing next season's programs and another about last week's live recording of our concerts for the Denon record label. While this publicity helps us, the musicians' perspective and comments were shut out from both articles. (in fact, none of our official press releases have been printed since this all began) I believe several quotes from those articles need to be isolated to demonstrate the damage they are causing.

In the article about next season's programs, the first thing Ex. Dir. Tony Beadle is quoted saying is, "The orchestra may go on strike..." There has been no mention of a strike by our representatives. Why would Mr. Beadle open with such an inflammatory and presumptuous phrase in the public press? What are his intentions?

In another article, last week's recording project was deemed a "vanity" event by Mr. Beadle (which FYI was not organized by management, but by principal tuba Jim Akins with support from Gene D'Angelo). To brand as "vain" a recording by a well known international label is absurd. Recordings build and inspire GREATER support for an orchestra. If he considers this beneficial publicity to be excess fat, what are Mr. Beadle's real goals for developing the symphony? Who is directing him?

Columbus is larger and growing faster than Cleveland, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh. Of those cities, Columbus' per capita income is highest. Yet musicians' salaries are already 30-50% lower than the orchestras in those cities. How embarrassing that "the powers that be" in the Capitol of Ohio seem unable to justify an orchestra appropriate to its size and wealth! Columbus deserves a real concert hall and a better vision for its orchestra's growth, not the dismembering of its largest arts institution.

In yesterday's article about county support for the arts there is this quote by Commissioner Marilyn Brown, "We so often talk about Columbus as a sports community. Columbus is arts, too". That is empty rhetoric. Last year I attended a play in Pittsburgh, which has a thriving theater district with numerous productions offered on a Tuesday evening. Columbus barely squeaks for the arts by comparison. Let's face that fact and act upon it, rather than thinking smaller and smaller."

We have 15 organizations with budgets over $500,000," Bill Conner, head of CAPA, said in yesterday's Dispatch. Wow! That's such a stress on a huge city which spends untold hundreds of millions per year on sports. Mr. Connor continues, "This isn't about bailing out the symphony. This is about providing support for our arts and cultural community." If supporting a great orchestra in our city is "bailing it out", then we need to ask Mr. Connor why he's in arts management.

Last season, the orchestra reluctantly gave up three weeks of precious Classical Series to allow management to "repackage" those weeks into something more marketable. Those weeks were feebly renamed and then even more feebly marketed, and now have been canceled. Three weeks of classical music are for all intents and purposes lost, to you and to us. Their only function now, as empty paid weeks, is fodder to argue for cutting our contractual weeks permanently.

There have been viable rumors of plans to shut down the orchestra April 1st (April Fools Day!) Additionally, there are hints that cheaper, lower quality Eastern European orchestras will be brought in to "replace" our lost weeks. I heard one of these groups last year here in Columbus. The quality was far inferior to the CSO, which lives and works here.

Next season's schedule, which usually starts in mid-September, is not slated to begin until October. CAPA and the stagehands who work for them are itching to dump the CSO for more lucrative Broadway shows.

What can you do? A lot. Please, spread the word. Forward this letter to everyone. Write and phone your city and state representatives, specifically Gov. Strickland and Mayor Coleman. Call for the resignation of those who claim to represent and support this orchestra and Columbus by proposing this defeatist plan. Call for the Dispatch to fairly report the musicians' statements.

More information can be found at symphonymusicians.com and a new site to be officially launched April 1, symphonystrong.com. Add your voice. Let's prove grassroots networking can change things.

Sincerely,
David Thomas,
Principal Clarinet
Your Columbus Symphony