Allegro

Currently Browsing: June, 2007

Over the years, many of us at Local 802 have been the recipients of invaluable assistance from Tina Hafemeister during her tenure on the Executive Board of Local 802, as financial vice-president and as supervisor of the Music Preparation Department.

Read More

Organizing Matters
Marisa Friedman
CONDO VS. CULTURE: Activist and performer Paul Bartlett protest the closing of Tonic, the last avant-garde music venue of its kind. Next to Tonic stands the Blue Condominium, the latest sign of gentrification to hit the neighborhood. Photo by Barbara

Read More

Membership Alert
TO CARRY ON… OR NOT? Last winter, Allegro asked members about their experiences carrying on instruments. Responses were published in December as part of the “Beat on the Street” question of the month. Click here to read what members had

Read More

Union Wins Several New Off Broadway Deals
Mary Donovan
A scene from “Bitty Bear’s Matinee: The Family Tree” at the American Girl Theatre. Musicians performing there play under a Local 802 contract. Local 802 concluded several new contracts over the last several months, some of which have been pending

Read More

Bill Dennison
Substantial dues increases are being proposed. Local 802 opposes them. Local 802 is committed to true organizing, not just “recruitment.” Local 802 is supporting resolutions that would make the AFM pension fund more user-friendly. Local 802 is committed to unifying

Read More

Local 802 has officially joined the chorus of diverse voices calling for universal health care. On March 9th, President Mary Landolfi testified to the NY State Assembly Committees on Health, Labor and Insurance about the effects of the health care

Read More

Whither the Recording Industry and the AFM?
Mary Landolfi
BETTER MUSIC ED ABROAD? The following letter by Mary Landolfi was published in the New York Times on April 22 in response to a Times article about the choice of the new music director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic. To

Read More

Every day, 200,000 domestic workers in New York – nannies, elderly companions and housekeepers – make it possible for their employers to go to work. Most are employed without a living wage, health care and basic labor protections. These workers

Read More

Jim Hannen
Former Steven Scott leader Ike Walkover has become the newest signatory in the club date field. Since Steven Scott ceased operations early last year, Local 802 has been working to convince all the former Scott leaders to continue to provide

Read More

Music & Politics
Julia Smith
Local 802 has officially joined the chorus of diverse voices calling for universal health care. On March 9, Local 802 President Mary Landolfi testified to the State Assembly committees on health, labor and insurance about the effects of the health

Read More

On April 11, the Classical Musicians’ Forum met in the 802 club room where the results of the Freelance Concert Survey were reviewed in detail. The discussion resulted in the preliminary formulation of proposals for the freelance concert negotiations. In

Read More

Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
I think my clients are about to break the law. And I don’t think that I will be able to stop them. Let me back up. Attorneys spend the greater portion of their time counseling clients on the legal ramifications

Read More

Views from the Board
Maura Giannini
Michael McGrath (left) and Jonathan Hadary in the Broadway cast of “Spamalot.” The Las Vegas version was supposed to use only eight musicians – plus recorded tracks – but the producer decided to increase the number of musicians. Photo by

Read More

If You Play for Peanuts, Call Us
Karen Fisher
In the mid-1980’s, I was an ambitious young clarinetist just embarking on my career. Armed with a bachelor’s degree in music performance and modest experience, I spent a small fortune traveling to auditions only to wind up in cattle calls

Read More

Educating Our Members - and Finding Money for Them!
Joel LeFevre
As part of a continuing program of membership education and organizing, the 802 Recording Department holds seminars on how to file a recording contract. While the focus of the seminar is getting the contract filed correctly, much of the content

Read More

CONCERT L’Opera Francais de New York. L’Opera Francais de New York and Local 802 signed an agreement to extend their previous contract through Dec. 31, 2007. The employer has agreed to pay full freelance scale for a performance in May.

Read More

Membership Alert
Did you record for Knitting Factory Records, Instinct or KnitMedia? Thanks to a settlement brokered by musicians and the union, Local 802 may be holding on to copies of your old CD’s. However, the union can not hold on to

Read More

Musicians in Movies
The recent Hugh Grant movie “Music and Lyrics” featured union musicians performing on screen: sideline musicians. The gig calls for more than just chops. Ever see a scene in a movie where music is being played? Have you wondered whether

Read More

June is Gay Pride Month. Have you seen more acceptance for musicians who are openly gay, over the course of your career? As an openly gay musician, I find that overall there is more acceptance. However, I think acceptance and

Read More

Movie Reviews
Mikael Elsila
CLUB DATE STORIES The man with the camera: 802 member and club date musicians Neil Capolongo produced “Club Date Stories.” How often does something funny, weird or bizarre happen on a club date gig? Answer: all the time! 802 member

Read More

Call & Response
Charlie Keil
MUSICAL HISTORY: Max Ciesielski (lower right, snare drum) joined the musicians’ union in 1919. His story is told in Charlie Keil’s book, “Polka Happiness.” Last month, Allegro ran extensive features about Labor History Month. That reminds me of Max Ciesielski

Read More

802 Sponsors Blood Drive on June 13
Mary Donovan
The American Red Cross is scheduled to set up a mobile blood drive site at Local 802 on Wednesday, June 13 from 1:30 p.m. to 6:45 p.m. Our Club Room will be dedicated for one whole day to the drive.

Read More

Musicians' Assistance Program
Janet Becker, LCSW, Ph.D.
In June of 1969, a group of gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender people rioted in protest when the police raided the Stonewall Inn, a gay bar in New York City. The Stonewall riots are generally considered to be the beginning

Read More

The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters published here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. Letters must be 300 words or less. Send them to Allegro, c/o

Read More

Jonathan Abramowitz – Cello Matthew J. Cvetic – Organ Albert J. Defemio – Drums Leroy Jenkins – Violin Toni Koves-Steiner – Cymbalum Ralph D. Lambert – Piano/Conductor Sam Lane – Drums James Phipps – Piano Gene Quara – Accordion Dewey

Read More

Crossword and Sight-Sing Challenge
SIGHT-SING CHALLENGE: Toccata and Fugue in D minor, by J.S. Bach CROSSWORD PUZZLE ANSWERS Across 1- Gator’s kin CROC 5- Pitcher’s error BALK 9- Opposite of hot, in bands SWEET 14- “____ Lee” (Civil War song) AURA 15- Mitch Miller’s

Read More

March 27, 2007 -- April 10, 2007
TUESDAY, MARCH 27, 2007 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. Present: President Landolfi, Recording Vice President Dennison, Financial Vice President Blumenthal, Executive Board members Fein, Giannini, Hunt, Johansen, Rizzo, Roach, and Schwartz. Dennison distributed the minutes of March 20,

Read More

Bill Crow
George Avakian told me about a European tour made by his wife Anahid Ajemian and her sister Maro. Ernest Krenek had written a double concerto for them and they were driving from Paris to Baden Baden for the premier performance.

Read More