Allegro

Currently Browsing: 2003,

Bill Dennison
The 2003 AFM Convention took some important steps towards solving the organization’s ongoing funding problems, but not without difficult debate and compromise that came in the very last hours of the three-day meeting. Besides dealing with finances, the other convention

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Local 802’s Long Island office recently helped recover over $4,000 in back pension for four musicians – and $37,000 in workers’ compensation for another. Senior Business Rep Peter Voccola discovered that four club date musicians never ended up on contracts.

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Tina Hafemeister
Local 802’s Executive Board has submitted a bylaw that would increase both annual dues and work dues and will be voted on at the Oct. 21 membership meeting. The proposed bylaw includes increases in per capita annual dues of $2

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Coalition of Unions Staves Off Producers' Vow to End Minimums
Mikael Elsila
There was a point during the final, all-night Broadway negotiations when members of the bargaining team were frozen in silent shock. That was the moment they realized that, under intense pressure from the mayor’s appointed mediator, they would have to

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Bill Dennison
Broadway producers are arming themselves for an upcoming showdown with Local 802. Producers believe their weapon, a device dubbed the “Virtual Orchestra” (VO), will finally give them the upper hand in cutting and potentially eliminating live musicians in the theatre.

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Artists Reflect on 802's Seventh Teachers' Campaign
Margie Duffield with Dan Ashkenasi, Lynn Marlowe and Greg Pliska
(The following story was written by teaching artists who work in the Metropolitan Opera Guild Education Department. Teachers at MOG have presented management with a formal, public petition demanding union recognition, marking the seventh group of music, art, dance and

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A Look Back - and the Road Ahead
Leonard Leibowitz
As far back as the 1970’s, when Gerald Schoenfeld began threatening Local 802 with the Moog synthesizer if the union struck over minimums, producers have been seeking some mechanical device to replace live musicians. In 2003 they believed they had

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Jim Hannen
The club date industry has always been susceptible to the ups and downs of the economy. Certain segments of the club date business are more susceptible than others. The economic downturn of the past two years and the events of

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Chalk up another victory for teachers. Despite efforts to thwart them, teaching artists at the Metropolitan Opera Guild have won the right to organize. The National Labor Relations Board ruled on Sept. 22 that Guild teaching artists were employees –

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By Agreeing to Scab, Musicians Threatened Broadway Solidarity
Bill Dennison
Laura Berquist Scott Harris Jason Chase Roger Holmes Chris Clayton James Horan Frank Hames Chris Kershaw James B. Harp Charles Riley Frank Williams One of the most disturbing aspects of the recent Broadway negotiations was the willingness of the League

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Summer Smith
Musicians touring with the New York Stage Originals’ production of Scrooge: The Musical got more than they were expecting from their seasonal gig. The show is an original creation of composer and producer Philip Stern. For several holiday seasons, Stern

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Kaufman Teachers Win First Contract
Mikael Elsila
Amidst laughter and tears, a twenty-month battle – which included a strike – ended on Nov. 2 with a victory for 120 teaching artists at the Kaufman Center. After a final all-night bargaining session resulted in a deal, an overwhelming

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Bill Dennison
When the orchestra assembled for this year’s Radio City Christmas Spectacular, there was an uninvited guest in the band. Brett Sommer and Music Arts Technology had installed a “virtual orchestra” setup that included a computer and synth programmed to play

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Mikael Elsila
Rent a movie without leaving your home? As of last fall, that’s now possible. Forget about trudging through the snow to your local video store to rent a tape or DVD. Now you can rent movies by downloading them and

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At the AFM Convention in June, delegates voted on an emergency financial package to keep the union strong. At the same time, Local 802 is proposing its own dues increase. What are the main dues increases from the AFM? AFM

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The New York City Ballet Orchestra ratified a new three-year agreement in early November, extending the current contract until Labor Day, 2005. The vote was 36-9. At the end of the last agreement, base wages were $1,500 per week. The

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802 Wins a Contract with Four Nonprofit Theatre Companies
Tina Hafemeister and Mary Donovan
Even as Local 802 and Broadway producers were locked in a bitter dispute, the lights were shining brighter Off Broadway. Local 802 and four nonprofit Off Broadway companies – representing nine theatres – have signed an agreement covering performances, rehearsals

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Jim Hannen
Two hotel musicians recently won more than $10,000 in back pay and benefits from the Peninsula Hotel, thanks to assistance from 802’s Contract Administration department. The Peninsula, a signatory to the union’s Hotel Agreement, had temporarily laid off the two

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Allegro asked musicians what they think of the state of the single engagement industry. The club date industry today is not like it was 10 years ago. A lot of couples are hiring DJ’s as opposed to wedding bands. –Tammy

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David Lennon
Orchestras filing for bankruptcy. Underpaid musicians. Poorly managed symphonies. The problems of playing classical music are many – and they’re not new, either. The International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians – ICSOM – was established in 1962 to fight

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Natasha Jackson
IAJE CONFERENCE The 30th annual International Association of Jazz Education (IAJE) conference was held in Toronto on Jan. 8-11. The weather was seasonably cold and the conference arranged for shuttles between the conference hall and the Royal York, the two

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Panel on Media Ownership Attracts An Activist Public
Summer Smith
One single corporation, Clear Channel, owns more than 1,200 radio stations in the country, reaching over one-third of the U.S. population. And ten companies control two-thirds of radio stations nationwide. This consolidation was made possible by the Telecommunications Act in

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Johanna Kopp
I want to fight against the myth that we teaching artists have to accept low pay, no say and a poverty mentality just because we are devoted to teaching art. These and other related myths can sometimes be surprisingly resistant

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Met Opera Guild Teachers Strike - and File for Representation
Teaching artists at the Metropolitan Opera Guild (MOG) went on strike for two weeks in late July and early August, demanding that their employer recognize Local 802 as their representative. The strike was followed by a petition for recognition at

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Solidarity Was True Outcome of Broadway Strike
Bill Moriarity
There is no more important word in a union member’s vocabulary than “solidarity.” It speaks to everything we stand for as union members and as working people. Solidarity is the only viable defense for those without power, wealth, or position.

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A Way for Musicians and Other Artists to Extend Their Health Insurance
A new bill that provides state funds to pay for a portion of entertainers’ COBRA payments has passed the State Legislature and is now awaiting Governor Pataki’s signature. COBRA – the Consolidated Omnibus Budget Reconciliation Act – is a federal

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Mikael Elsila
In recent months, Allegro has reported on the proliferation of Internet music pirating – something both Local 802 and the AFM take very seriously. When consumers “share” copyrighted music files with each other through software like Kazaa, record companies lose

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The Anne Walker Scholarship Fund has awarded four scholarships for the coming academic year, to help 802 members or their children pursue studies in music. Wynne Bennett is the daughter of 802 member Ron Bennett. She just finished her first

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802's Contracts Inspire Others to Organize
Joel Schlemowitz
In 1998, jazz instructors at the New School won their first union contract with Local 802. Two years later, the New School’s Guitar Study Center followed suit. Inspired by their experiences, other faculty at the New School are fighting to

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As Allegro went to press, the final memorandum of agreement between Local 802 and the League was still being finalized. As soon as it is completed and reviewed by the negotiating committee, the union will schedule a ratification meeting. All

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Mikael Elsila
As President Moriarity pointed out in his December column, it’s still too soon to tell whether the Internet will be a good or bad thing for musicians. However, one thing is sure: the only constant is rapid change. Napster, the

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Empyreal Strings has signed a recognition agreement with Local 802, a victory that is part of a larger campaign to organize club date strings employers. Arlene LaPadura, director and representative for Empyreal Strings, signed the agreement for the owner of

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Public Relations and Staffing Levels Become Key Issues
Mikael Elsila
Members voted to raise dues at the Oct. 21 membership meeting by a secret-ballot vote of 91-43. It was the first time since 1996 that annual dues have gone up – and the first time since 1984 that the work

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The U.S. Secret Service, assisted by the Recording Industry Association of America (RIAA), conducted a raid on a music-piracy facility Dec. 9 in New York, culminating in what the trade group describes as the largest ever seizure in the U.S.

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The following resolutions have been submitted for consideration at the membership meeting to be held Tuesday, Oct. 21 at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room. (NOTE: In the following drafts, language that will be removed from the bylaw

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Local 802 has signed off with several Jewish single engagement employers on a new collective bargaining agreement. Representatives from Neshoma, Neginah, Barock and Nafshenu negotiated with Senior Business Rep Peter Voccola and an eight-member team of musicians. Both sides agreed

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Clear Channel's Reaches Spread Far And Wide Across Entertainment Field
Mikael Elsila
A creature with many heads called the Hydra used to dwell upon the earth, according to Greek mythology. Whenever Hercules chopped off one of its heads, two more would grow back in its place. There is a modern Hydra. It

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Financial Future of Union in Members’ Hands
The membership meeting to be held on Tuesday, Oct. 21, at 3 p.m. in the Club Room will consider six bylaw amendments. One was submitted by the Local 802 Executive Board and five were submitted by Local 802 members, with

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Marc Ribot
Although it has received almost no coverage in the U.S., the largest collective action by performing artists at least since the AFM recording strike of the 1940’s is going on now in France. Freelance musicians, artists and technicians have united

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Broadway’s Future Depends on Us
Bill Moriarity
As I write this, ratification of the new Broadway terms and conditions has not yet taken place. These terms and conditions arrived after a very difficult fight. As many know, the union was forced to consider significant lowering of the

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September 11 has brought indescribable suffering to New York City’s working people. We have lost friends, family members and coworkers of all colors, nationalities and religions – a thousand of them union members. An estimated one hundred thousand New Yorkers

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Frequently Asked Questions
The AFM Pension Fund – the fund that 802 musicians participate in – is changing. Read the details of the pension changes here, along with the President’s Report. But first, check out this story which explains how the fund works

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Benefit Modifications To Go Into Effect January 1, 2004
As you have no doubt read in recent articles in the press, the unprecedented negative performance of the equity markets over the past several years has significantly eroded the assets of pension funds across the country, including this Fund. To

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Through Local 802’s efforts, the Long Island Philharmonic has been approved for a wage subsidy contract by the Consortium for Worker Education, a not-for-profit organization founded in 1985 to provide schooling, training and employment services for workers in New York.

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(This AFM bylaw change, otherwise known as Amended Emergency Recommendation #8, was adopted at the AFM Convention and is not subject to further ratification.) 1. Per capita: $2.00 increases effective Jan. 1, 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 for regular, life

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Recent recording dates in mid-November that were cancelled without sufficient notice stiffed 45 musicians – including instrumentalists, arrangers and copyists – for a total of $40,000, including benefits. The loss reinforced 802’s longstanding policy to get an advance deposit from

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Lower Manhattan Could Spark Cultural Renewal
Bill Moriarity
For several months now the New York City Central Labor Council and Local 802 have been discussing the rebuilding of the World Trade Center site and the role that the cultural institutions and entertainment businesses might ultimately play in that

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Upcoming AFM Conference Could Change Union Rules
Bill Moriarity
The AFM’s 95th convention is scheduled to be held at the Riviera Hotel in Las Vegas on June 23-25. As always a number of bylaw modifications are being proposed. Eighteen of these amendments were submitted by the International Executive Board

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Controller's Report
For the six months ended June 30, 2003, Local 802 enjoyed a gain of $52,209, compared with a loss of $53,376 reported for the comparable period of 2002. (The audited financial statements for the year appear on pages 16-17 of

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Live Music Takes Center Stage: Broadway Musicians Serve Up Outdoor Concerts
Bill Moriarity
As you may recall, in the almost two years leading up to the past Broadway negotiations, Local 802 engaged in a public relations campaign built around the theme of live music. A series of radio ads was created, read both

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Controller's Report
Jon Bogert
For the year ended Dec. 31, 2002, Local 802 incurred a loss of $348,570, compared with a loss of $90,460 reported for 2001. (The audited financial statements for the year appear on pages 14-15 of the May 2003 Allegro.) The

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In Chicago, Meeting About Orchestra Recording
Bill Moriarity
Last month I reported that AFM local officers and representatives of the AFM symphonic player conferences were scheduled to meet in Chicago on Jan. 13 to discuss recording issues. That meeting took place and, while no significant conclusions were reached,

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Big Changes in Pension Rules
Bill Moriarity
Printed at right is the notification distributed by the American Federation of Musicians and Employers’ Pension Fund regarding pension benefits cuts that will become effective Jan. 1, 2004. The trustees of the fund took these actions, at the recommendation of

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The AFM Financial Package
Bill Moriarity
For more than ten years it has been recognized within the AFM that the Federation was in a precarious financial situation. At conventions in 1991 and 1993 compromise revenue and expense packages were put together that were meant to address

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At the last Sound Agreement negotiations, Local 802 and the AFM made it clear that the “Big Five” record labels were missing critical information from hundreds of recording reports making it difficult for the union to enforce the contract. The

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Member to Member
Marc Ribot
Many mourned the death last December of Joe Strummer. The former Clash guitarist, a true voice of punk resistance, died in London from a congenital heart disease at age 50. Virtually unreported in the U.S. media was Strummer’s history of

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Guest Commentary
This commentary first appeared on the Web site of the AFL-CIO. The Federal Bureau of Labor Statistics April jobs report confirmed what millions of U.S. workers know all-too well: The nation’s job crisis is bleak and getting bleaker. Some 8.8

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Erwin L. Price
Last month, I. wrote that MPTF allocations would be reduced for the fiscal year 2003-4 (which began on May 1). That information proved to be correct since Local 802’S. allocation will be $274,121, which represents a reduction of 37 percent

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Guest Editorial
Elizabeth A. Wennar, M.P.H., D.H.A.
(This commentary was submitted by the same organization that purchased the advertisement on page 9 of the October 2003 Allegro.) Some Local 802 members work enough union jobs to get on the union’s health plan. But for those who don’t

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Guest Commentary
Bob Hayes and Ben Peck
A core group in the House of Representatives no longer wants Medicare to run as a government program that guarantees a set of health benefits at a known price. Instead, they want to establish a government-financed voucher system in which

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Recording Vice-President's Report
Erwin L. Price
In several memos to officers and MPTF supervisors across the country Trustee Noel Berman has given early notice that the royalty and audit receipts for MPTF for 2003 are, to use his words, “down precipitously – well over $2 million.”

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802 Assisting Greengrocer Campaign
Local 802’s Organizing Department is helping with a campaign to improve the working conditions of deli workers. The campaign, which is being promoted by the state AFL-CIO, the RWDSU and the UFCW, involves convincing deli owners to sign onto a

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At its June 11 meeting, the Trustees of the Local 802 Health Benefits Fund modified the self-pay (COBRA) continuation coverage language in the HBP Summary Plan Description as follows: For Plan A participants, if you lose eligibility due to insufficient

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During an epoch of intense labor organizing in the late 1930’s, two giants of the Harlem Renaissance, jazz pianist and composer James P. Johnson and poet and novelist Langston Hughes, collaborated on the creation of a one-act opera, De Organizer.

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Financial Vice President's Report
Tina Hafemeister
On Oct. 21, members voted to ratify an increase in annual dues and work dues by an overwhelming majority (see story here). The increase has set the stage for a new administration to take office with some financial security and

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Guest Commentary
Herman "Denny" Farrell, Jr.
Mayor Bloomberg wants to eliminate all party primaries from New York City elections. To accomplish this he appointed a Charter Revision Commission to place a referendum question on this November’s ballot. That referendum question marks a misguided effort to repeal

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Curtains Rise on Broadway Negotiations
Bill Moriarity
As I write this, Broadway negotiations are tentatively scheduled to begin in late December or early January. The Broadway Theatre Committee, made up of representatives from each show, has been working for more than a year and a half to

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Member to Member
Michael Drapkin
As a member of 802, I have read a number of pieces over the last year in Allegro on the subject of digital downloads. One of the common themes has been that digital downloads of music and other media are

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Guest Commentary
Simon Greer & Carrie Brunk (New York Jobs With Justice)
New York Jobs with Justice is a dynamic coalition of New York City labor, community, student and faith groups that organizes to transform our communities and workplaces. We take concrete action to level the playing field by building power for

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Member to Member
Danita Ng-Poss
Borneo is a place Americans are more likely to associate with rainforests, headhunters and orangutans than musicians. That’s because most Americans know little or nothing about the city of Kuching in Sarawak, Malaysia where I grew up. I am often

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N-Coded Music
Local 802 and the AFM are in a dispute with N-Coded Music (formally known as N2K Encoded Music), a subsidiary label of Warlock Records. This grievance involves failure of the label to pay musicians according to the terms of a

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Guest Commentary
Michael Copps
One of the most important votes of 2003 will be cast not in Congress or in voting booths across the country but at the Federal Communications Commission. At stake is how TV, radio, newspapers and the Internet will look in

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The Local 802 election is Tuesday, Dec. 2. Voting takes place from 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. at 322 West 48th Street and 54 Sunnyside Blvd., Suite K (Plainview, Long Island). To be eligible to vote, you must have paid

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
Dithering, dawdling, delaying, and deferring: we all procrastinate sometimes. Who hasn’t put off doing the laundry for just one more day? Sometimes we really do need just a little more time to think something over before taking action. And sometimes

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
Most of us experience emotional problems at some point in our lives, and while we’re often able to muddle through on our own, sometimes we need to ask for outside help. Family and friends can make us feel better, and

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Recording Vice-President's Report
Erwin L. Price
In my last column for Allegro I focussed on member services that Local 802 offers, their availability and the means to access them. In this article I’d like to comment on the flow of information: from outside the union to

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The Beat on the Street
Downloading music from the Internet is probably here to stay. Yet it is unclear whether this is going to be good or bad for musicians. There is legal downloading, like when musicians sell their own music through their own Web

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802 Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
In April’s column I discussed how to process a claim for money owed through the Small Claims Division of the New York Civil Court, when the amount due is less than $3,000. Let’s now assume that you have successfully navigated

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Click here for Part I and Part III My last article concerned whether a musician may be considered an employee so that he or she can actually take advantage of the anti-discrimination laws. Let’s say for the sake of argument

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Click here for Part I and Part II There are several published decisions involving employment discrimination claims brought by professional musicians which serve as interesting illustrations of the principles of employment law set forth in my last article. In this

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Guest Commentary
Gifford Miller, Speaker, New York City Council
New Yorkers have a reputation throughout the world for being gutsy, creative, tough and brave. And we’ve had to draw on just those qualities in the last year to cope with one of the worst crises in our long history.

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Out-of-Town Health Coverage & Accidental Death Benefit
OUT-OF-TOWN HEALTH COVERAGE In the October 2002 Allegro, Local 802 reported a possible change in its Preferred Provider Organization (PPO), which is currently MagnaCare. Members who are on Plan A or Plan B have been able to see a MagnaCare

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Dozens of musicians from Broadway volunteered to present free concerts on the TKTS island (Duffy Square) at 46th Street and Broadway, on Sept. 21 and Oct. 2. The events were organized by the union’s Public Relations Subcommittee of the Broadway

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Gangsta Rap, Copyright Infringement and Fair Use
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
By virtue of the Copyright Act, creators of original artistic or literary works are granted a limited monopoly in the use of their works. Through this limited monopoly, the author has the sole right for a period to time to

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The Beat on the Street
This month, Allegro asked members the following question: With symphony orchestras struggling across the country, what do you think is the best way to support orchestral music? Orchestras should aggressively propose concerts with popular artists who already have a large

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Guest Commentary
Sara Horowitz
If you’re uninsured and rely on gigs and other projects to earn a living, the cost of health insurance is probably a very central concern. With about one-third of Americans now working in flexible or mobile jobs, musicians and other

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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Musicians' Assistance Program - Part 2 Of 2
David J. Sternbach, MM, MSW, BCD
Last month in this column we ended by asking the question, “Why do we often give ourselves unhelpful messages when we’re practicing?” To answer this, we could look at our early role models. Did people around you laugh, shrug it

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, C.S.W.
Networking sounds simple enough, and yet there are days when the thought of making a few phone calls is enough to send you back to bed. Perhaps you don’t feel quite that strongly about it, but the prospect of having

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
We all know about SARS, but that is only the latest in a long list of viral-based diseases that have affected the human race. Others include the common cold, flu, warts, measles, bronchitis, chickenpox, mononucleosis, mumps, shingles, sore throat, hepatitis,

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Musicians' Assistance Program - Part 1 of 2
David J. Sternbach, MM, MSW, BCD
It’s hard to think of many things more frustrating than sitting down in the practice room to do some woodshedding – and having things end up worse. Every musician has this experience. But I’m not just talking about hitting technical

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Archival Recording Use Should Be Local’s Call
Bill Moriarity
On Jan. 13, the AFM convened a meeting in Chicago to address issues that have arisen over symphonic recordings, radio broadcasts, television broadcasts, internet activity and the appropriate payment of recorded archival material that may be released on a commercial

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Member to Member
Basil Kyriakou
Of great interest to Local 802 conductors and orchestral players is the reopening of the Brooklyn Public Library’s Circulating Orchestra Collection, making available – after a ten-year hiatus – its extensive holdings of more than 600 titles to ensembles of

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Guest Commentary
Jon Bloom, Executive Director, Workers Defense League
Most of us assume that people who become unemployed receive unemployment insurance (UI) benefits as a matter of course. In fact, many applicants for UI – 140,000 in New York State last year alone – are denied benefits on grounds

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An Interview with Pete Seeger
No living musician has walked a straighter line between his art and his activism than Pete Seeger. In the McCarthy era of the 1950’s, Seeger and his group the Weavers were blacklisted for their political activities. During the 60’s, he

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"Speaking Spatially"
The 2002 Pulitzer Prize for music was awarded to 88 year old Henry Brant for his composition ‘Ice Field’, premiered by the San Francisco Symphony December 12, 2001. Approaching his 70th year as a member of Local 802, Brant talked

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802 Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq., Local 802 Counsel, Leibowitz & Mars, LLP
To most working musicians, this scenario may be a familiar one: you just finished the gig and the owner of the bar hands you $500 cash. The only problem is, you had agreed to play for $800. Or, maybe you

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Local 802 Legal Corner
Harvey S. Mars, Esq.
Local 802 Counsel
Leibowitz & Mars LLP
Click here for Part II and Part III What do you do if you encounter discrimination while working as a musician? The first thing you should ask yourself is, am I performing under an 802 union contract? If you are

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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LOCAL 802 RECEIVES BEQUESTS Local 802 received two bequests, each for $20,000, this summer. One was from the estate of Anna Koch, a cousin of Jascha Heifetz, in honor of Mr. Heifetz. The other bequest was from the Mago Hayes

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. Please keep all letters to 300 words and send them to Allegro, c/o Local 802, 322 West 48th Street, New York, NY 10036, or e-mail

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2003 Health Supplement
Laraine Sileo
The mere sound of the word “diet” makes me cringe – and I’m sure I’m not alone. For many it represents restrictions, which is an immediate ground for resistance. My personal and professional experience is that diets don’t work. Or

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Gloria McCormick Gloria McCormick assumed the duties of Local 802 Health Benefits Plan Administrator in January. McCormick has worked at Local 802 since 1988. She has served as Sick Pay and Hospitalization Fund Administrator, Broadway Payroll Administrator and Executive Secretary.

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, C.S.W.
By the time you read this it will have been one year since I began working as the social worker for the Musicians’ Assistance Program. I wrote my first column in this space about some of the services the MAP

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Claudia Glaser-Mussen, M.S.W.
(Note to Allegro readers: this column contains some graphic descriptions of sexual practice.) Who is at risk for contracting H.I.V.? Anyone. Men, women, young, old, heterosexual, gay, bisexual, rich, poor – and all racial and ethnic groups. Yet not everyone

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Jane Burbank, CSW
There are times when many of us feel that our performance may not be up to par. Sometimes this feeling only lasts for a performance or two. For others, this may continue for an extended period of time and become

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The following Local 802 members or ensembles were nominated for Grammy awards on Feb. 23. An asterisk (*) indicates that the Grammy was won. Name of Musician or Group Grammy Category Name of Project Gary Burton Best Classical Crossover Album

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
If you think the problem of chemical dependency hasn’t touched your life, stop and look around. According to a conservative estimate by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, 20 million Americans are affected by addiction. The music industry

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REMEMBERING JULIUS LEVINE To the Editor: This letter refers to the passing of Julius Levine (see “Requiem” in this issue). I was a bass student of Julius starting in 1976 at Stony Brook. Every chamber group wanted him as a

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To the Editor: I want 802 members to know what a privilege and pleasure it was to co-chair the AFM’s Joint Law and Finance Committee with your president. Bill Moriarity is so easy to work with and I was able

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Heather Beaudoin
ON ELECTION DAY, CHECK OUT THE FINE PRINT Local 802 urges members to consider ballot proposals On Nov. 4, besides electing candidates, voters will decide on six proposals. The union is particularly concerned with questions 3, 4, 5 and 6,

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2003 Health Supplement
Thomas Verchot
Stress – both physical and emotional – is certainly not uncommon to musicians. Too much work can cause tension or injury to certain parts of the body. And too little work creates a lot of anxiety. Reiki – a gentle,

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Local 802 members whose Health Benefits Plan credits fall below $400 in a six-month period and are thus unable to qualify for Plan B may apply for reimbursement of up to 50 percent of the contributions to help pay for

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Musicians' Assistance Program
Leslie Cardell, CSW
Perhaps you’ve heard, or perhaps not, but there’s a new social worker coordinating the services of the Musicians’ Assistance Program on the sixth floor. That’s me! I’d like to introduce myself to you and remind you of some of the

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Below are only a few of the dozens of messages received by Local 802 during the last few days. LOCAL ONE, IATSE Congratulations on your settlement. The League, by its recent actions and statements, has united the Broadway trade unions

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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Frank Hughes
As musicians, we often have to play the same musical passages over and over, but many times we don’t realize how tight our muscles are until they are sore. This soreness can be easily staved off with a simple activity:

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
All good musicians understand the concept of touch. Many of you spend a lifetime trying to blend your body type with your instrument in hopes of finding the nirvana of comfort, sound and ultimate expression – a synchronization of your

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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Effective Dec. 19, 2002 - Dec. 18, 2005
WAGE CATEGORY THEATRE SIZE   100-199 Seats 200-299 Seats 300-399 Seats 400-499 Seats Performance Salary (8 or fewer performances per week and including first double) $550.00 $670.00 $750.00 $820.00 Rehearsals (weekly) $600.00 $725.00 $800.00 $900.00 Rehearsals (hourly) $22.50 $27.50 $32.50

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The Beat on the Street
“The Beat on the Street” is a new feature in Allegro. We’ll e-mail a question and you’ll tell us what you think. To participate in “The Beat on the Street,” we need your current e-mail address! Check with the Membership

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Heather Beaudoin
LABOR COUNCIL OPPOSED TO CHARTER REVISION REPORT HIGHLIGHTS WORKERS’ WOES ECONOMY FAILS TO PRODUCE JOBS THE EMPLOYEE RIGHT TO CHOOSE ACT IMMIGRANT WORKERS FREEDOM RIDE LABOR COUNCIL OPPOSED TO CHARTER REVISION The Central Labor Council has been advocating against the

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VIRTUAL ORCHESTRA PICKETED Musicians, actors and stagehands picketed a nonunion touring company’s production of “Miss Saigon” that played Sept. 23-28 in Boston. The show, produced by Big League Theatricals, utilized a virtual orchestra with a few nonunion musicians filling out

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Heather Beaudoin
HELP CANADIAN MUSICIANS BIG INCREASES IN ARTS FUNDING LABOR PUSHES FOR JOBS IN LOWER MANHATTAN LMDC SEEKS ARTS GROUPS CULTURE BUILDS NEW YORK MOURNING JAMES DAVIS HELP CANADIAN MUSICIANS The AFM is asking Local 802 members to help make it

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Instruments were stolen from the cars of two separate 802 members around the end of October. If you have any information, including if you see the instruments for sale privately, or in a music or pawn shop, please notify the

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WHEN THE CURTAIN LOWERED This article also appeared in the New York Times. To the Editor: The pit was picked clean. The musicians of Man of La Mancha had already removed photos, sweaters, electronic tuners, metronomes, instrument stands, and even

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Member to Member
Harold Weg
I love teaching music. I love it for the way it makes me feel when a student discovers the simple logic of the circle of fifths. I love it for the way a little girl and a middle-aged stockbroker light

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Heather Beaudoin
RENEWAL OF RENT REGULATIONS BUDGET CUTS FEDERAL CAMPAIGN FINANCE LAW STRUCK DOWN RISING UNEMPLOYMENT RATE RENEWAL OF RENT REGULATIONS On March 12 the City Council voted by 45 to 3 to renew rent laws in New York City, and Mayor

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Lifestyle Notes
Dr. Diane Gioia-Bargonetti
(This article, submitted by a Local 802 member, contains advice and suggestions intended to improve one’s health and well-being. Local 802 and Allegro offer no endorsement or recommendation regarding the efficacy or safety of any of the remedies suggested, and

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OFF BROADWAY “Mack The Knife:” Local 802 signed an agreement with Splish Splash Productions, LLC, James Haddon, producer, covering eight musicians performing at the 199-seat theatre at Saint Peter’s Church. The side musician scale is $485, the conductor premium is

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JILLBERN MUSIC The Executive Board has approved – and the bandmembers of Jillbern Music have ratified – a successor agreement with owner Herb Bernstein. Improvements over the previous agreement include a scale increase to $185 from $175 for up to

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Heather Beaudoin
KEEP NEW YORK RADIO LIVE A BETTER CHOICE FOR NEW YORK PEOPLE’S RALLY FOR A FAIR BUDGET REBUILD BY CREATING JOBS STATE PASSES ANTI-SMOKING LEGISLATION KEEP NEW YORK RADIO LIVE AFTRA’s “Keep NY Radio Live” campaign is aimed at fighting

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Allegro Interviews Ahmad Jamal
Natasha Jackson
Arguably one of the greatest contributors to American classical music is jazz pianist Ahmad Jamal. Born in Pittsburgh, Mr. Jamal was what some might call a child prodigy. He began serious study at the age of seven under the tutelage

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by D. Antoinette Handy, Rowman and Littlefield/Scarecrow Press, 357 pages, hardcover
The motivation to write this wonderful book about black women musicians developed in the mind of a 14-year-old black American girl whose ambition was to be a symphonic orchestral flutist – the author, Ms. D. Antoinette Handy. A little more

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DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM Dance Theatre of Harlem and Local 802 reached agreement on the terms of a new contract in June, just prior to a one-week engagement at the Lincoln Center Festival. The agreement is backdated to the expiration

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Member to Member
Charlie Keil
When would a professional musician not want to be called a professional musician? It sounds like the setup to a bad joke. But for Romani musicians – who some call Gypsies – there are profound distinctions between professional musicians and

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Following are some of the national boycotts endorsed by the national AFL-CIO. The boycotts were instituted by and are conducted by the unions noted in the descriptions. For more information, check out www.unionlabel.org. BUILDING MATERIALS & TOOLS JET EQUIPMENT &

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by Julie Lyonn Lieberman, Huiksi Music, 2002, 107 pages, $22.95 softcover
Bill Crow
This slender large-print folio is Julie Lieberman’s sixth music instruction manual. Aimed at conductors, directors and educators, it suggests some modifications on the traditional teacher/student relationship, including the physical arrangement of the classroom and rehearsal space, and offers strategies, techniques

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ATLANTIC CHAMBER SYMPHONY A first-time three-year collective bargaining agreement has been reached with the Atlantic Chamber Symphony. For a number of years, the symphony has consistently filed single engagement contracts for a string of summer concerts upstate. The new contract

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CENTER FOR CONTEMPORARY OPERA Musicians of the Center for Contemporary Opera unanimously ratified a contract that provides full retroactivity for all services performed since May 1, 2002 and covers all work though June 30 of this year. All wages and

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Wayne Andre – Trombone Victor Caplain – Piano Frank D’Annolfo – Trombone Florence DuPage – Organ Grover Mitchell – Trombone Frank Ruggieri – Bassoon Wayne Andre Wayne Andre, 71, a trombonist and an 802 member since 1958, died on Aug.

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Ralph Adler – Viola Florence Anderson – Organ/Composer Rudolph Bennett – Piano/Conductor Constance Betsch – Piano William A. Caiazza – Trombone/Euphonium Victor Caplain – Piano Jerry Citron – Piano Francesca Corsi – Harp Sebastian Fucci – Drums Herbert Garber –

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OFF-BROADWAY For all commercial Off Broadway contracts, the following terms are standard unless otherwise indicated. The side musician scale includes a guaranteed first double at 12½ percent (this premium doesn’t pay additional money; it is factored into the base scale).

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Roman Polanski’s The Pianist is a story about how music by itself can’t triumph over evil. And yet, music – and the human spirit – get the last word. The film is the true story of Wladyslaw Szpilman (played by

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DON’T BLAME THE PHILHARMONIC!A BAD EXPERIENCE WITH MT. LAUREL CENTERFOUR SCHOLARSHIPS AVAILABLE FOR MUSICIANSA QUESTION OF PROCEDURE DON’T BLAME THE PHILHARMONIC! To the Editor: In her Oct. 10 op-ed piece in the New York Times called “Orchestra for Hire: No

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GOLDMAN MEMORIAL BAND A settlement has been reached between Local 802 and the Goldman Memorial Band (GMB) concerning three grievances that were brought to arbitration. Two of the grievances involved the tenure and hiring status of two long-time GMB musicians.

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Matt Weiers
Matt Weiers is a pianist, visual artist and music teacher in Portland, Or. Athump, thump, thumping drum; a bouncing, bounding bass; the stinging chord from a bright guitar. A haunting voice floats from your radio and that sound is born

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AMERICAN OPERA MUSICAL THEATRE COMPANY On Jan. 27, the National Labor Relations Board ordered the American Opera Musical Theatre Company to post an order saying that it will bargain with Local 802. The union has been in dispute with the

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PAUL MORER PRODUCTIONS Local 802 recently won a three-year-old grievance against Paul Morer Productions that went all the way to district court for enforcement. The grievance concerned employment on a cast album, and the total amount was for $5,000, which

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June 17, 2003 -- July 15, 2003
TUESDAY, JUNE 17, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:35 a.m. Present: Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon, Jazz

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July 22, 2003 -- August 5, 2003
TUESDAY, JULY 22, 2003 Meeting called to order at 12:15 p.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. President

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Heather Beaudoin
COUNCIL OVERRIDES GIULIANI VETO OF SWEATSHOP BILL MOURN FOR THE DEAD, FIGHT FOR THE LIVING NEW YORK NEEDS ELECTION REFORM CAMPAIGN FOR UNIVERSAL HEALTHCARE CONTINUES COUNCIL OVERRIDES GIULIANI VETO OF SWEATSHOP BILL In a clear victory for the labor movement,

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If you are interested in putting your name on the waiting list for an apartment in Manhattan Plaza, now is the time! The waiting list, which has been closed since 1995, will open this July. To apply, you must request

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CLUB DATES The Long Island office recently settled grievances against two different employers for not paying musicians. In the first case, an employer who does a small amount of work in the Jewish single engagement field failed to pay a

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by Gene Santoro, Oxford University Press, $17.95, 452 pages, softcover
“Mingus was feeling the Zeitgeist.” This phrase – which recurs throughout Gene Santoro’s biography of the composer, bandleader and bassist Charles Mingus – perfectly captures the main theme of this thoroughly researched and lovingly written book. Not only is this

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Harold Ashby – Saxophone Aaron Bell – Bass Morton Bullman – Trombone Benny Carter – Saxophone/Trumpet/Composer/Arranger Joseph Cavallo – Clarinet/Saxophone Steven E. Chubak – Violin Edward Edson – Piano Andy Fitzgerald – Clarinet Ernest A. Giovanelli – Violin Luther Henderson

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Heather Beaudoin
REDUCING COMMUTE TIME PROTECTING MITCHELL-LAMA REDUCING COMMUTE TIME Rep. Anthony Weiner will be seeking federal transportation dollars to help alleviate long commute times for New Yorkers. Although much of New York’s problem with commute times stem from a high volume

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Charles A. Bellanti – Duovox George Bohn – Alto Sax Carl Bowman – Euphonium/Composer Ruby Braff – Cornet John Crosby – Composer Luis R. Cruz – Guitar Michael Giaramito – Saxophone Robert Gladstone – Bass Nathan Goldstein – Violin Cecil

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Edward Bebko – Organ Dave Bowman – Piano Katharine E. Brainard – Cello Al Cappi – Guitar Matt Carnevale – Piano John N. Chryssikos – Violin Peter Compo – Violin/Bass Jack Danisi – Piano Ruth Freeman-Gudeman – Flute Victor Jarowey

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Matt Carnevale – Piano Frank Cedrone – Piano Joseph Colombo – Guitar Sam Faso – Accordion Tom Glazer – Guitar Dave Harris – Saxophone Joseph Losh – Trumpet/Conductor Rusty Magee – Piano Morris Mamorsky – Conductor Eddie Martin – Saxophone

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What can be said about Peter Jackson’s The Two Towers from a music – or union – perspective? First, the music. That’s easy. Howard Shore’s score is awesome. It’s an old-school, lush, orchestral score with a recognizable main theme that

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Tax Year 2002
In recent years, as the tax season approached, Allegro has published extensive tax tips provided by Local 802’s accounting firm, Gould, Kobrick & Schlapp, P.C. As a result of passage of the Economic Growth and Tax Relief Reconciliation Act of

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May 27, 2003 -- June 10, 2003
TUESDAY, MAY 27, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant Director Lennon. Minutes of May

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Winter 2002
WOMEN’S HIV GROUP Mondays, 4:30-6 An on-going support group for women in the entertainment community living with HIV. For more information, call Elizabeth Avedon at (212) 221-7300, ext. 138. ARE YOU ON THE FENCE WITH LIFE IN THE INDUSTRY? Feb.

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January 14, 2003 -- February 4, 2003
TUESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:28 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon,

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by Leslie Gourse, Schirmer Trade Books, 209 pages, $25, hardcover
With this book, Ms. Gourse adds another winner to her admirable list of biographies of jazz musicians. She gives an interesting account of Art Blakey’s life and career, from his birth into poverty in 1919 in Pittsburgh, to his death

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February 13, 2003 -- February 20, 2003
THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2003 Meeting called to order at 3:15 p.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon. Financial Vice-President

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GETTING A BROADWAY JOB To the Editor: I am a pianist and keyboardist and have been a Local 802 member for over 30 years. Recently I attended a performance of Beauty and the Beast on Broadway as I am good

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July 7, 2003
Meeting called to order at 1 p.m. Present were Trial Board members Goletz, Hood, Ray, Roberts, Schwartz and Singer. Absent were members Koch, Lambert and Rojas. Case #928. Plaintiff William Dennison appeared before the board, on behalf of Local 802,

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KEEP OUR LEVERAGE STRONG The AFM is supporting legislation that would provide tax credits for U.S. record labels, film studios and other manufacturers who keep their work in this country. In the past two decades, the AFM has faced the

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The following resolution will be submitted and voted on at the February membership meeting, Tuesday, Feb. 25 at 3 p.m. in the Local 802 Club Room, 322 West 48th Street, Ground Floor. (Admission by paid-up membership card only.) RESOLUTION Submitted

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IN DEFENSE OF LOCAL 16 To John Glasel: I read the reprint of your letter to the New York Times in the February Allegro and agree about the ineffectiveness of many AFM locals and the venality they display when they

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Win an 802 Jacket!
The answers will be posted on this page after Feb. 28. Local 802 presents a crossword puzzle in celebration of Black History Month. Each of the clues in the puzzle is related in some way to jazz. The union will

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DICAPO OPERA THEATRE The DiCapo Opera Theatre and 802 have agreed to a new four-year contract that contains across-the-board increases in all major economic categories. The new agreement, which will cover all work until June 19, 2007, contains a nearly

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Heather Beaudoin
CITY AND STATE CULTURE BUDGET UPDATE SPEAKER PROPOSES REVENUE SHARING TAX PLAN ARTS AND CULTURE IN LOWER MANHATTAN RIGHT TO ORGANIZE CHALLENGED LAYOFF INFO NEEDS TO BE DISCLOSED DROP THE ROCK CITY AND STATE CULTURE BUDGET UPDATE The mayor released

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Here are the answers to the Allegro jazz crossword puzzle, created in honor of African American History Month. The puzzle was published in the February 2003 issue, page 16. Congratulations to Richard H. Miller, a pianist and an 802 member

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Patrick H. Breen – Drums Adolf A. Cedrone – Guitar Jerry Citron – Piano Edward Edson – Piano Bernard Frank – Piano Webster Lewis – Piano Tommy Ortel (Ortolano) – Saxophone George J. Saslow – Cello John Serry – Organ

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NEW YORK GRAND OPERA Local 802 and New York Grand Opera reached a one-year agreement that covers all work performed at Flushing Town Hall from Sept. 1, 2002 through Aug. 30, 2003. Performance and rehearsal wages were significantly increased. In

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Heather Beaudoin
CLOCK STOPS ON OVERTIME ATTACK FCC EXPANDS MEDIA GUIDELINES ANTISMOKING LAWS SHOULDN’T BE WEAKENED PROTECTING CHILD PERFORMERS UNEMPLOYMENT CONTINUES TO RISE CLOCK STOPS ON OVERTIME ATTACK In a victory for the labor movement, the U.S. House withdrew a bill scheduled

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Broadway producers’ threats to use “virtual orchestras” (see January 2003 Allegro) is a hot-button issue for musicians. Two out of three letters this month touched on taped or virtual music, while Sig Singer writes about his memories of Mel Rodnon.

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MUSIC OUTREACH A new collective bargaining agreement has been reached between 802 and Music Outreach, Learning Through Music, Inc. Music Outreach currently has 23 musicians on its regular and substitute roster. The musicians perform as duos and trios for schoolchildren,

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Arnold L. Arden – Saxophone Samuel Carmell – Violin Larry Charles – Woodwinds Paul Clement – Cello Adolph Coleman – Violin Richard Dunlap – Trombone Robert G. Fields – Piano Sam Levitan – Bass Thomas E. Parker – Piano Ben

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Heather Beaudoin
RADIO DEREGULATION THE GREENGROCER CODE OF CONDUCT NEW YORK CITY BUDGET OUTLOOK LIBERTY BOND HOUSING COALITION RADIO DEREGULATION The Future of Music Coalition (FMC) released a report on Nov. 18 documenting the effects of radio station consolidation on musicians and

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August 12, 2003 -- Oct. 14, 2003
TUESDAY, AUGUST 12, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Reynolds, Rohdin and Shankin, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison. Minutes of Aug.

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WESTBURY MUSIC FAIR Local 802 settled a dispute with Westbury Music Fair over cancellation of an engagement by Johnny Mathis scheduled for last March 8-9. The $7,500 settlement represents wages and benefits for 26 musicians who were canceled one day

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THEATRICAL READING CONTRACTS “Mambo Kings”: After some back and forth with management, Local 802 reached an agreement with the Mambo Kings Company (Allan Williams, general manager) covering four musicians for the developmental production of “Mambo Kings.” The wages for side

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March 4, 2003 -- April 22, 2003
TUESDAY, MARCH 4, 2003 Meeting called to order at 2:33 p.m. Present were Recording Vice-President Price, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss and Controller Bogert. President Moriarity, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister and board member Giannini excused

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December 17, 2002 -- January 7, 2003
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 17, 2002 Meeting called to order at 11:27 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant Director Lennon. Minutes of Dec.

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Nancie Banks – Vocalist/Bandleader Helen Berlin – Violin Bill Berry – Trumpet Louis Damico – Saxophone Julius Grossman – Violin/Music Educator Roland Hanna – Piano Berge Kalajian – Trumpet Ben Kendall – Piano Werner Lywen – Violin Edward Pancari –

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Louis Adler – Bass Joseph W. Barufaldi – Saxophone Ovid Bastien – Bass Peter Compo – Violin Andrew F. Fitzgerald – Clarinet Ruth Freeman-Gudeman – Flute Ignatius N. Gennusa – Clarinet Charles K. Johnson – Trombone Leo Kinstler – Trumpet

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CATHEDRAL OF ST. PATRICK Local 802 and the Cathedral of St. Patrick have reached agreement on a first collective bargaining agreement. The two-year deal recognizes the union as the collective bargaining representative of all musicians engaged for all work performed

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October 22, 2002 -- November 12, 2002
TUESDAY, OCTOBER 22, 2002 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Crow, Giannini, Landolfi, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon. President

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April 29, 2003 -- May 20, 2003
TUESDAY, APRIL 29, 2003 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Crow, Gale, Giannini, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Assistant Director Lennon,

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Norman (Buddy) Baker – Conductor/Arranger George Barrie – Saxophone Helen Berlin – Violin Joe Carroll – Drums John Cyr – Drums Frank De Marinis – Saxophone Vincent Forchetti – Trombone Bobby Forrester – Piano Max Jaffe – Piano Raymond Kaiser

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November 19, 2002 -- December 10, 2002
TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 19, 2002 Meeting called to order at 11:30 a.m. Present: President Moriarity, Recording Vice-President Price, Financial Vice-President Hafemeister, Executive Board members Blumenthal, Gale, Giannini, Landolfi, Reynolds, Rohdin, Shankin and Weiss, Controller Bogert, Assistant to the President Dennison, Jazz

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December 2, 2002
Meeting called to order at 1 p.m. Present were members Goletz, Hood, Koch, Lambert, Ray, Roberts, Schwartz (Trial Board clerk) and Singer. Member Rojas absent. Case #925: Plaintiff Erwin L. Price, Recording Vice-President, Local 802, appeared before the Board to

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Heightened security measures at U.S. airports have impacted the ability of musicians to carry their instruments in-cabin. Below is important information to help you and your instrument safely reach your destination. CHOOSING AN AIRLINE AND MAKING YOUR RESERVATION: Know airline

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Bill Crow
Art Baron told me about a club date he played at one of Manhattan’s major hotels. He arrived a bit early, while Tony Sotos and Eddie Montiero were playing the preheat. The hors d’oeuvres tables were groaning with food, and

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Bill Crow
Chris Kimball is a drummer from the Pacific Northwest and the son of my old friend the late Ken Kimball, pianist and teacher. Chris was looking for a way to raise money for the International Rotary Club’s Polio Plus program.

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Bill Crow
My friend the late Tommy Mitchell was in the orchestra of one of my first Broadway shows, “The King and I.” He lived nearby in Englewood, New Jersey, but he seemed to have difficulty getting to the theatre with any

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Bill Crow
Back in the 1950’s, bassist Georges André developed a pain in his right foot. The podiatrist who examined it thought he needed an operation, but was unable to do the job right away as he was leaving for a three-week

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Bill Crow
When Bobby Day was Fred Waring’s featured banjo player, he often played golf at Waring’s country club in the Delaware Water Gap. It was a favorite hangout of many famous cartoonists and comedians, and Bobby enjoyed their company on the

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Bill Crow
I turned on my car radio a few weeks ago day and heard the voice of my old friend Walter Norris, a wonderful jazz pianist who has been living in Germany for many years. He was talking on an NPR

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Bill Crow
I played at a jazz festival last September up at Chautauqua Lake, N.Y., an annual event that is put together by Joe Boughton of the Allegheny Jazz Society. Joe is an enthusiastic organizer and always puts together a good program.

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Bill Crow
I got an e-mail message from George Avakian last July with the sad news that Father Norman O’Connor had passed away. Father O’Connor was a great supporter of jazz in the Boston area, a board member and emcee at the

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Bill Crow
Broadway producers aren’t the only ones looking at technology that is designed to replace live musicians. Sam Levine sent me an article from the Washington Post that describes a new device that can be placed in a bugle held by

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Bill Crow
Abba Bogin sent me a clipping from a California newspaper which contained this story: One of the late John Cage’s compositions from 1967 is titled “Organ2/ASLSP.” ASLSP stands for “as slow as possible,” and a normal performance would last about

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Bill Crow
When my friend Ruby Braff passed away last February, silence came to both his gorgeous cornet playing and his razor sharp tongue. Throughout his life, Ruby went his own way. He taught himself to play, and developed a style all

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