Allegro

Currently Browsing: 2016,

for the new Local 802 Referral Service Online Directory
Enter to win a $100 Amazon Gift Card! WHAT? Help Local 802 update its Musician Referral Service by choosing a brand name for our new online directory. HOW? Submit your entries to contest@local802afm.org. Include your name, union card number, and

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
This has been an intense summer and it’s only just begun. As I write these words, the nation is still recovering from the horrific attack that took place in mid-June at the Pulse nightclub in Orlando. The thoughts and prayers

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
I am pleased to be able to begin this report with some good news. The New York City Opera is alive again! After over two years in limbo, the company has new owners. A bankruptcy court has approved the group

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
As I write these words, the country is still feeling the aftershock of the presidential election, which brought into office someone who many feel is an untested, unstable and unfit leader. I know that some of our members voted for

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
I hope that everyone had a great summer. For me and Local 802, it was jam-packed with Broadway negotiations, the AFM convention and election endorsements. Those three topics are what I want to address in this month’s column. First, you

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
By the time you read these words, our negotiating team will have met with the Broadway League a few times to exchange proposals and begin preliminary bargaining. I want our members to know that even though we would like to

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
In mid-April, we learned that one of the great musical luminaries of our time is stepping down. Maestro James Levine will end his role as music director at the Metropolitan Opera at the end of this season. He will remain

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
Our union is about to celebrate a milestone: the 100th AFM Convention of Delegates will happen later this month. It’s worth getting a refresher on our history, which can also be found on the AFM’s web site. In the mid-1800s,

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
My report this month will be short because there’s really only one thing on our minds: the Nov. 8 election, which is just around the corner. In this issue, please see The Local 802 Endorsement Slate. As always, we do

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
Happy New Year to all! As I write these words, I’m in Tokyo at a meeting of the International Federation of Musicians, hosted by the Musicians’ Union of Japan, where we’re discussing, among other things, fair remuneration to musicians when

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
This month, Local 802 will finally begin negotiations with the League for our upcoming Broadway agreement. Over the past year, we’ve been meeting with our Theatre Committee to come up with our basic proposals and strategy. Needless to say, this

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President's Report
Tino Gagliardi
It’s already shaping up to be a very busy season at Local 802. First, I’m happy to report that we have negotiated a successor agreement with Radio City Music Hall. It’s a three-year deal with increases in wages of 2

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ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 15, 2016 for the benefit period that begins Sept. 1, 2016. IMPORTANT: There is NO MORE BUY UP from this point forward. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed

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New York University and Vice Dean Ted Magder have been placed on the AFM International Unfair List due to their unwillingness to cover Local 802 musicians under any agreement. NYU employs Local 802 members as independent contractors in its film

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Black and White Together
Local 802's archives show that we were an early and significant force in the struggle to achieve racial equality
Randy Sandke
This article from the February 2016 issue of Allegro magazine...

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Glen Daum
Fans of big band jazz will be in for a real treat when the 48th Street Big Band pays tribute to a true “musician’s musician” and living legend, the arranger Marion Evans, in a concert of his music and featuring

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We have received a demographics report from the Broadway League covering the most recent Broadway season (2014-2015). The League has kindly allowed us to share the report’s executive summary with our readers. Note that recent admissions have broken records. EXECUTIVE

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The New York Philharmonic cares about the next generation of musicians! The orchestra runs Philharmonic Academy Jr., which provides training to young musicians. One of its partners is the Harmony Program, which gives instruments and free daily instruction to more

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Rep. Jerrold Nadler for Congress
The Local 802 Executive Board has endorsed Jerrold Nadler for re-election to U.S. Congress. Congressman Nadler represents New York’s 10th congressional district, which covers the west side of Manhattan and parts of Brooklyn. He has made artists and musicians a

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Meredith Snow
The 54th International Conference of Symphony and Opera Musicians was held this past August at the Loews Madison Hotel in Washington, DC. Hosted by AFM Local 161-710, the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra and the National Symphony Orchestra, the conference

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May 1 is the deadline to apply for this year’s Anne Walker Scholarships. This is the 18th year that members of Local 802 and their children who are pursuing studies in music will have the opportunity to apply for these

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  In the September issue of Allegro, we told members that our attorney Harvey Mars had recovered the historic Titanic musicians’ plaque, which is more than 100 years old and which Local 802 used to own before losing it during

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FIGHTING COLON CANCER Six years ago – on June 24, 2010 – I was diagnosed with colon cancer. I survived, and consider every day a precious gift. Not everyone diagnosed is as lucky as I have been. Colon cancer is

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The referral service has a new name! The Executive Board would like to thank everyone who participated in the renaming contest. Your contributions helped pave the way for our upcoming reboot. Each of your entries was reviewed, and the Executive

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Mort Kuff
As a young teen in my hometown of Baltimore in the late 1930s and early 40s, I was already an ardent big band groupie and a relentless autograph hound. I managed to attend nearly every appearance of a big-name band

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Amending the DMCA is vital for musicians, businesses and music fans worldwide
Christopher Carroll
Music and the arts are vital components of our society, able to bridge linguistic, economic and social divides. They comprise our cultural heritage, a culmination of our past and present, which becomes a gift for our future. Today, our artists

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Photo Spread
Leon Russianoff (1916-1990) was one of the top clarinet instructors in the world and the teacher of Stanley Drucker, among many others. He taught at Juilliard, the Manhattan School of Music, Queens College and the 92nd Street Y. He was

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to Allegro@Local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

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ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JULY 15, 2016 for the benefit period that begins Sept. 1, 2016. IMPORTANT: There is NO MORE BUY UP from this point forward. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed

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Chris Carroll
A note from the political director… It’s finally here. After what seems like the longest campaign season in American history – and after what will surely be remembered as among the least predictable election cycles of the modern era –

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Financial Vice President's Report
Tom Olcott
Happy new year! I welcome all Local 802 members to 2016, which is the 92nd year of Local 802’s existence. We are alive and kicking, with a solid balance sheet for a labor union. We’re doing very well. We continue,

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New York Pops contract is the framework, with compromises on both sides
Tom Olcott
Local 802 members who perform in the freelance classical field have experienced a world of hurt for many years now. I hate to write that sentence. I prefer – both personally and institutionally – to present a more optimistic, brighter

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ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY January 15, 2017 for the benefit period that begins March 1, 2017. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed between July 1 to December 31, 2016 can be reported on

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Lessons learned from Labor Notes Conference 2016
Sarah Koshar and Lily Paulina
Earlier this year, we attended the biannual Labor Notes conference in Chicago. As organizers at Local 802 we are constantly thinking about how musicians can build power to improve their wages and working conditions. This weekend-long conference, which focuses on

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Al Carty is in the house
Al “Boogie” Carty is a bassist, composer, musical director and creative collaborator who works with some of the top names in the music business across different genres. The Bronx native, who first joined Local 802 in 1999, has recently been

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State of the classical music field
Tom Olcott
I hope everyone has had a rejuvenating and enjoyable summer. Let me report on a number of items that have impacted the freelance concert world since I last wrote in this space. The New York Pops has reached an agreement

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Part of orchestra’s failure was that the board failed to listen to musicians
Tom Olcott
Well, wouldn’t you know it! Remember how my column last month expressed cautious optimism about the freelance concert world? I wrote about some recent Local 802 deals that showed progress in wages and other conditions. I wondered if the recent

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Financial Vice Presidents Report
Tom Olcott
Local 802 has always sought to negotiate contracts with fair wages, reasonable working conditions, health care contributions and retirement benefits. After many decades of activism and countless hours of bargaining, Local 802 musicians currently enjoy a robust variety of collective

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PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES Hillary Rodham Clinton The Local 802 Executive Board is proud to endorse former secretary of state, senator and first lady Hillary Rodham Clinton for president of the United States of America. Secretary Clinton has demonstrated

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The union helps you get paid better! A few months ago, Local 802 received calls from musicians about three shows at the Tilles Center for the Performing Arts on Long Island conducted by Dean Karahalis and the Concert Pops Orchestra.

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Christopher Carroll with David Newoff
Music and the arts are often the ultimate manifestation of a society’s values. Throughout history, the arts have stood the test of time, providing the thread that connects a community’s unique fabric of priorities while also addressing its challenges. It

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Financial Vice President's Report
Tom Olcott
One of my duties as financial vice president is to report twice a year on the union’s finances. Our latest audited report appears in the printed issue of Allegro. It covers the period Jan. 1, 2016 to June 30, 2016,

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Music & Politics
Christopher Carroll
June is always a busy month in halls and backrooms of New York state and city government. The legislative session in Albany comes to a frenzied close with the “big ugly” and the next fiscal year budget is agreed to

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Musicians put a lot of strain on their bodies. We asked our members for their stories about preventing and fixing injuries. Here's what you said...
Below are the stories of musicians who responded to our poll. We would like to hear from more of our members about this important topic. Please e-mail your stories to Allegro@Local802afm.org. DISCLAIMER: The following stories are anecdotes from fellow musicians

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Karen Fisher
When should musicians play for free? In the June issue of Allegro, Tom Olcott discussed “the chamber music conundrum” and the ambiguity that musicians often face regarding artistic satisfaction versus the need to make a living. I’d like to follow

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Towards a more inclusive, diverse and innovative Local 802
Chris Carroll
Since starting my work as Local 802’s political and communications director on Feb. 1, I’ve been struck by two things: the passion for live music performance exhibited by our membership, and the vast amount of work and music taking place

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Financial Vice President's Report
Tom Olcott
One of my duties as financial vice president is to assist in the production of the annual audit of the local’s finances and to report the results to the membership. The audit was completed and reviewed by our accountants, Gould,

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A passionate union of music and activism
Chris Reza
My dad and I both grew up in the same small Pennsylvania town. And he was gay. And I was gay. And he killed himself. And I…became a lesbian cartoonist.” So says the character of Alison Bechdel in “Fun Home,”

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Tom Olcott
We’re now just a few days before the election. As you know, Local 802 has endorsed Hillary Clinton for president. For me, the current presidential race presents the starkest choice I have seen in my life – and I remember

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Shane Gasteyer
The word is out! The show Real Enemies, featuring Local 802 member Darcy James Argue’s band Secret Society, was a breakout hit. Part of the 2015 BAM Next Wave Festival, Real Enemies was a multi-media investigation of America’s fascination with

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The musical lives of Valerie Naranjo
Valerie Naranjo, a member of Local 802 since 1989, has been the percussionist in the Saturday Night Live band for 20 years and has served in the pit orchestra of Broadway’s “The Lion King” for almost as long. She was

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THE SPELLBINDING MUSIC OF AARON ROSAND I recently had the pleasure of hearing longtime Local 802 member and violinist Aaron Rosand perform for a packed hall at the Summit Music Festival at Manhattanville College in Purchase, NY. At the age

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Controller's Report
Cathy Camiolo
For the six-month period ended June 30, 2016, Local 802 realized a gain of $219,603. The audited financial statements for the six-month period appear in the printed issue of Allegro. The Statement of Activities reflects an increase in total revenue

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Celebrating a year of magic at Inside Broadway
Bettina Covo
“All you need is faith, and trust, and a little bit of pixie dust” -J.M. Barrie, “Peter Pan” This was indeed a magical year for over 8,000 lucky public schoolchildren who attended the Creating the Magic events presented by Inside

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to allegro@local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

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Since last fall, Local 802 member Jon Batiste has been the music director and bandleader for the Late Show with Stephen Colbert. Below, from left, Local 802 members Michael Thurber, Joe Saylor, Jon Batiste, Eddie Barbash and Louis Cato. The

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‘Jazz Mentors’ kicks off with sound advice from the masters
Todd Bryant Weeks and Bettina Covo
It’s called the music business for a reason. The business side of music is often anathema to most musicians – something to be ignored, feared or misunderstood. Historically, music conservatories and other higher educational institutions have put little weight on

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Controller's Report
Cathy Camiolo
For the 12-month period ended Dec. 31, 2015, Local 802 realized a loss of $24,761. The audited financial statements appear in the printed issue of the May 2016 Allegro. The Statement of Activities is relatively consistent when comparing 2014 to

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Organizing Matters
Maggie Russell-Brown
In the early morning hours of June 28, 1969, police conducted a now-infamous raid at the Stonewall Inn in Greenwich Village. The event led to what became known as the Stonewall Riots and is largely credited as launching the Gay

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to allegro@local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

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Recording Vice President's Report
Andy Schwartz
Andy Schwartz is the recording vice president of Local 802 and the supervisor of the union’s organizing, jazz and single engagement departments. Contact him at aschwartz@local802afm.org or (212) 245-4802, ext. 110. This is my first column writing to you as

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Fifteen years after 9/11, musicians commemorate those who helped in the aftermath
Ralph Farris
Just across the street from the World Trade Center, St. Paul’s Chapel is known as “The Miracle Church” and “The Little Chapel That Stood.” Through the madness and terror and violence of that September morning 15 years ago, St. Paul’s

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Music & Politics
Christopher Carroll
This election cycle was marked by intolerance, disenfranchisement, sexism, racism, anger and nationalism. Let’s respond with engagement, tolerance, equity and vigilance for the vulnerable. Trumpet players are famous for worrying about their high notes. When I was a student, that

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Dave Roth
It’s time for the fifth annual iPod drive on Broadway to bring the power of music to Alzheimer’s patients “Everything has gotten too complicated these days!” That is the familiar refrain of my father. You see, he is now in

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Assemblyman Joseph Lentol explains why the Empire State Music Production Tax Credit is good for musicians and good for the exonomy
In the closing hours of the legislative session in Albany, the Assembly and Senate passed the Empire State Music Production Tax Credit (A10083A/S7485A), marking a major step forward in Local 802’s efforts to drive New York’s recording industry by providing

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Musicians retain their right to workers' compensation
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Broadway Green Alliance helps make theatre more sustainable
Rebekah Sale
Earth Day this year occurs in a world more aware and concerned about the environment and our effect on it. World leaders met recently in Paris to create real goals on curbing emissions. President Obama and others have called our

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The Broadway Green Alliance collects and sends the following items to its partners for upcycling, recycling or proper disposal. These collections are year-round on a drop-off basis between 10 a.m. and 6 p.m. at the BGA office., 165 West 46th

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Music & Politics
Christopher Carroll
Presidential candidates were not the only individuals on the ballot for Local 802 members on April 19. Though Hillary Clinton, Bernie Sanders, Donald Trump, Ted Cruz and John Kasich deservedly received the bulk of the attention, many members on Long

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to Allegro@Local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

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Jazz Mentors 5 explores the changing face of jazz
Todd Bryant Weeks and Bettina Covo
All photos by Walter Karling. As a packed crowd poured into Local 802 on an early October night, it was clear this was going to be an exciting evening. Jazz Mentors held its fifth successive event as part of what

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The Musicians’ Voice is an open forum for discussion about the state of union affairs. The letters here do not necessarily express the views of Local 802. E-mail letters to Allegro@Local802afm.org or write to Allegro, Local 802, 322 West 48th

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Local 802 hosts panel at Jazz Connect Conference
Todd Bryant Weeks and Bettina Covo
Local 802’s Jazz Department started off the year on a solid footing by hosting a panel at this year’s Jazz Connect Conference. The annual event was sponsored by Jazz Times magazine, and took place at St. Peter’s Church on Jan.

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Inside Broadway Summer Camp 2016
Bettina Covo
August – that sultry summer month saturated with dog days of sweltering heat. Vacations come to an end as the start of the school year looms large on the horizon. However, for 15 children who attended Inside Broadway’s Summer Stock

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Guest Commentary
Tom Finkelpearl
NYC Cultural Affairs Commissioner Tom Finkelpearl explains what’s going into the city’s first comprehensive cultural plan and why it’s important for musicians to take part in the process In October, the Department of Cultural Affairs kicked off the public input

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Ron Carter is among the most original, prolific, and influential bassists in jazz. With more than 2,000 albums to his credit, he has recorded with many of music’s greats: Tommy Flanagan, Gil Evans, Lena Horne, Bill Evans, B.B. King, the

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Jazz Mentors
Todd Bryant Weeks and Bettina Covo
Knowledge is power. Local 802 was once again the setting for our fourth Jazz Mentors program, which was presented earlier this summer in the Club Room. The all-star panel included virtuosic drummer-bandleader Sherrie Maricle, top-ranked vocalist/educator Amy London, versatile jazz

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As more and more films come to NYC to record, producers need larger spaces. A new recording service at the DiMenna Center is helping to fill the gap.
More productions are taking advantage of the tax breaks offered in New York to record here, which is great news for our musicians. But until recently, New York City has had only two large recording studios: Manhattan Center and Avatar.

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It’s all about respect! Part-time jazz faculty at the New School first won a contract with Local 802 in 1998. At the time, faculty had received only one raise in over 10 years and had no health benefits, pension or

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Music & Politics
Marvin Moschel
Almost anyone who’s been following labor law recently knows that the Supreme Court deadlocked 4-to-4 on an important case called Friedrichs vs. California State Teachers Association. For the moment, this preserves the right of public sector unions to collect union

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Guest Commentary
Vincent Alvarez
New York City is a union town! It’s a chant heard at labor rallies all over the city, and it’s true – New York City was built and is continuing to be supported by union labor. And while the classic

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Photo Feature
At Local 802, musicians support their fellow artists. This year, we began producing a monthly benefit concert series called Jazz in the Afternoon, featuring top Local 802 talent. All proceeds benefit the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund. The most

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Photo Spread
Broadway legend Maurice Hines taps us through his incredible career in show business in “Tappin’ Thru Life,” a song and dance celebration. Hines pays tribute to his brother Gregory as well as the performers who inspired him – from Frank

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Copyright considerations for music professionals
David Newhoff
Copyright and the protection of intellectual property in the digital age are priorities for Local 802 and the AFM. Over the next four months, copyright expert David Newhoff will contribute this guest column, which will discuss the history and importance

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A historic relic honoring the brave musicians of the Titanic returns to Local 802
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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News from the Actors Fund
Traci DiGesu, M.S.W.
The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,

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Photo Feature
Live musical theatre sounded great at the Broadway League’s annual revue called “Stars in the Alley,” which took place in the heart of the theatre district. The free outdoor concert included excerpts from many top shows. Local 802 members performed

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Labor History Month
Ben Houtman
New York’s cabaret laws had been on the books since 1927, born in the wanton days of the jazz age, but only really hit their damaging stride in 1943, when all musicians working in New York City were made to

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Does New York’s primary system need an overhaul?
Chris Carroll
April 19 came and went, and with it passed New York State’s presidential primary. Former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton collected 139 of 247 delegates, and real estate mogul Donald Trump secured 89 of 95 delegates. Though both results had

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Judge affirms right of two student musicians to practice in their apartment, despite owner's complaint
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to hsmlaborlaw@harveymarsattorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.harveymarsattorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Here's what you can do...
As many know, Local 802 member Mary Whitaker was murdered on Aug. 20, 2014 at her home in Chautauqua, New York. She was only 61 when she was killed and she had been a member since 1976. (Search the Allegro

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Photo Spread
The New York City Opera is alive again! After over two years in limbo, the company has new owners. A bankruptcy court approved the group known as NYCO Renaissance (which includes Roy G. Niederhoffer and Michael Capasso) to take over

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Renata Marinaro
It’s open enrollment time for Obamacare plans. But what does this mean – and how can you sign up? The Affordable Care Act (otherwise known as Obamacare) has been in the news a lot recently, and with good reason: premiums

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Eulogy
Todd Bryant Weeks
The phone rings in Local 802’s Jazz Department. A mellow baritone comes on the line, thrumming with laughter and positive energy. “All right!” the voice calls out. It’s the immediately recognizable signature greeting of Bob Cranshaw. The vibe is contagious,

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Transforming lives through music
Claire Bryant
At age 15, I was seriously dedicating myself to cello studies, totally confident I was going to be a soloist à la Jacqueline du Pré. What budding female cellist would expect anything less? Fast forward to roughly 20 years later,

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Jazz Mentors
Todd Bryant Weeks and Bettina Covo
The word is getting out! The Jazz Mentors series rolled out its third installment, as legendary bassist Ron Carter, pianists Renee Rosnes and Bill Charlap and composer-conductor Maria Schneider took questions at Local 802 from an engaged audience of jazz

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Paquito D’Rivera defies categorization. The winner of 14 Grammy awards and a member of Local 802 for 35 years, he is celebrated both for his artistry in Latin jazz and his achievements as a classical composer. Born in Havana, Cuba,

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Labor History in Musical Theatre
Coinciding with the recent 105th anniversary of the Triangle Shirtwaist Fire and just in time for Labor History Month, NYU has revived and restored the 1937 musical “Pins and Needles,” one of the first musical theatre works to deal with

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Bettina Covo
Meet the newest fiddler of “Fiddler on the Roof”! Kelly Hall-Tompkins, a member of Local 802 since 1994, is the concertmaster of the Tony-nominated revival, which is running at the Broadway Theater. “Fiddler” is her first experience playing in a

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Cellist Dave Eggar shapes his own vision with fluidity, integrity and musical honesty
Bob Pawlo
Three-time Grammy-nominated cellist and composer Dave Eggar has been a member of Local 802 for almost 20 years. A virtuoso in classical, jazz and rock cello, Eggar started his academic career at Harvard, where he studied both music and biophysics,

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Bassist Ron Wasserman forms a new ensemble and does the right thing by making sure his band members are covered by a Local 802 union contract
Ron Wasserman
After 33 years of being an active member of Local 802, I now find myself in the position of being both a member of the union and a signatory employer. I recently signed an agreement with Local 802 so that

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The labor board makes an important decision about the rights of musicians who work for a theatre. Local 802 members take note!
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to hsmlaborlaw@harveymarssattorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.harveymarsattorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Local 802 Gospel Committee Organizer Leslie Wilkins, 63, passed away a year ago, on Oct. 16, 2015. The Gospel Committee recently paid tribute to Leslie at a special musical service at Local 802. “Leslie’s insight and kindness helped soothe the

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Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Suzanne Ornstein on her lifelong passion for music, her inspiring teachers, and the insights she's gained
Violinist Suzanne Ornstein, a member of Local 802 since 1977, has enjoyed a rich and varied career. She’s served as concertmaster of the American Symphony Orchestra, New York Pops, New York Choral Society and Little Orchestra Society, and she also

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September 15, 2015 - October 27, 2015
TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 15, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. Present: President Gagliardi, Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Schwartz, Sharman. Minutes from September 8, 2015 reviewed. It was

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Photo Feature
Shortly after the Orlando attack in June, Broadway artists came together to record a single of the classic song “What the World Needs Now is Love” by Burt Bacharach and Hal David. Profits of the recording will benefit the LGBT

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David Amram offers his gifts to the next generation with humility, grace and love
David Amram has played with everyone and traveled everywhere, but it’s never gone to his head. He started his professional life in music in the early 1950s playing French horn in the legendary jazz bands of Charles Mingus, Dizzy Gillespie

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Labor History in Musical Theatre
On June 17, 1943, ten thousand workers, mostly African-American women, went on strike at the R.J. Reynolds tobacco company in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. It was a dramatic story of courage. Poor workers, who were fed up with the brutal conditions

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Recently, two extremely important decisions were rendered by the courts that are worth mentioning to all union activists and musicians. It is very heartening to see that there are judicial opinions being issued in this country that are favorable to

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GABRIEL BANAT Gabriel Banat, 89 a member of Local 802 since 1947, died on July 23. Mr. Banat was a noted virtuoso violinist, 23-year member of the New York Philharmonic, musicologist, author and teacher. As a chamber musician he performed

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The Supreme Court is about to consider a case that may make labor history - and not in a way that's fair to union members
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Kurt Masur and Pierre Boulez
We recently lost two greats: Kurt Masur and Pierre Boulez. Both had served as music directors of the New York Philharmonic. We asked Local 802 musicians for their favorite memories. Here’s what they told us… Kurt Masur was a larger-than-life

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Local 802 musicians, officers, staff and supporters marched in the annual labor parade sponsored by the Central Labor Council. This year’s band included (clockwise from left): Scott Bourgeois (tenor sax); Rick Faulkner (trombone); Kevin Blancq (bandleader and trumpet); Mary Cherney

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What happens when musicians strike the record labels
Harvey Mars, Esq.
In 1877, Thomas Edison, while working on improvements to his other inventions – the telephone and telegraph – invented a means for both making and playing back sound recordings using tinfoil-coated cylinders and two needles. The creation of the modern

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Ed Joffe
For most woodwind players on Broadway, doubling is a mandatory part of the profession. But was this always true…and how old is the tradition of doubling? Multi-tasking has become a staple of modern living and is certainly a requirement for

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Dominic Derasse
Minutes after the Bastille Day attack on July 14, my son called me while I was standing just outside of Local 802 speaking with Tino Gagliardi. The information was very sketchy at that time. I was devastated not knowing if

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This opportunity to rejoin the union was bestowed uponst me once again at the end of 2014 when I let my union dues lapse. I was on the road with my band, the Stumblebum Brass Band, most of last year

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One of the hottest tickets in town is “Hamilton” – and the show is everywhere. The cast recording just won a Grammy for best musical theatre album. The music is being taught as curriculum in public schools. The cast and

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Feature Interview
UPDATE: This article was re-posted in May 2020 as part of our #BestOfAllegro series. See the end of the article for Eva’s update during the coronavirus quarantine of 2020. French hornist Eva Conti is in her 18th season as principal

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Photo Feature
The Local 802 holiday party included the official swearing-in of Local 802 officers Tino Gagliardi, Tom Olcott and Andy Schwartz, and a goodbye to outgoing Recording Vice President John O’Connor. Live music and good cheer provided the perfect atmosphere to

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Shane Gasteyer
Now in its 12th year, the NYC Winter Jazzfest has evolved into one of the most highly-anticipated events in the New York music calendar. Over the course of five days, the festival encompasses an astonishingly wide variety of music, with

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At 80, he's done it all and played with everyone. Now he shares what he's learned with the next generation...
Bob Pawlo
Not many musicians can say they’ve been a member of Local 802 for over 70 years, but trumpeter Al Stewart is proud to make that claim. At 89 years old, Al has been a union man since 1944. He lives

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Bettina Covo
“Some days you get up and put the horn to your chops and it sounds pretty good and you win. Some days you try and nothing works and the horn wins. This goes on and on and then you die

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Was he actually a champion of all musicians?
Jay Berliner
Harvey Mars’ article in the July/August issue portrays James Caesar Petrillo, the AFM president from 1940 to 1958, as an heroic figure to whom “musicians throughout the country owe a huge debt.” Unfortunately, Mr. Petrillo was no hero to the

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Something new has come to classical performances. The debut season of the Philharmonia Orchestra of New York brought unprecedented visual spectacle to two landmark symphonies of Mahler and Berlioz in a pair of concerts under conductor Atsushi Yamada. Not only

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Eva Conti
The festive, flashy costumes of the dancer, percussive footwork, and the impressive guitar playing that accompanies it, are usually the first things that come to mind when most people think of flamenco. Originating in the south of Spain, flamenco music

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Photo Feature
There’s a place for us….somewhere, a place for us.” Those immortal lyrics by Stephen Sondheim from Leonard Bernstein’s “West Side Story” were the basis for a new project in celebration of Carnegie Hall’s 125th anniversary season. The Weill Music Institute

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Jill Pakman
UPDATE: Marvin Pakman passed away on Sept. 19, 2023 at the age of 95. Please enjoy this tribute below written in 2016 by his daughter Jill when he was 88 and had just achieved Honor status at Local 802. Fiddler

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Students get key advice from Local 802 musicians
How do you play percussion on Broadway? The New York University Percussion Studies Program, under the direction of Jonathan Haas, hosted this year’s ninth annual Broadway Percussion Seminar, an event which brings together an array of renowned Broadway percussionists and

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Member to Member
Valerie Ghent
It’s hard to believe that 9/11 happened 15 years ago, but I remember it like it was yesterday, because out of that tragic time something beautiful was born. Fifteen years ago, I was riding my bike along the West Side

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Each year, as the tax season approaches, Allegro publishes these updated tax tips for musicians provided by Local 802’s accounting firm, Gould, Kobrick & Schlapp P.C. OVERVIEW AND HIGHLIGHTS The following outline focuses on important aspects of the tax law

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Walter Gowens, EA and Phyllis Jo Kubey, EA
This article contains general information only and is not intended to address the circumstances of any specific individual. The information contained herein is accurate as of the date of publication, but there is no guarantee that such information will be

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Courage is expensive but the results are worth it
Steve Karmen
The mantra of my professional life is “Progress begins with one word: NO!” No, I will not sell my music on a buyout basis for a one-time fee; No, I will not sign a so-called standard work-for-hire contract that does

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
I always have a Dave McKenna CD on the player in my car, to cheer me up on long drives. Dave had a solo piano style that thoroughly examined the rich possibilities of the American Songbook, always swinging, always filled

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Legal Corner
Harvey Mars, Esq.
Harvey Mars is counsel to Local 802. Legal questions from members are welcome. E-mail them to HsmLaborLaw@HarveyMarsAttorney.com. Harvey Mars’s previous articles in this series are archived at www.HarveyMarsAttorney.com. (Click on “Publications & Articles” from the top menu.) Nothing here or

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Contractor Michael Keller offers hard-won tips and advice to the next generation
Born in Queens, drummer Michael Keller has enjoyed a long and varied career in music. A member of Local 802 since 1966, Keller has played numerous Broadway shows and also toured with Dionne Warwick and the Fifth Dimension. For 15

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Photo Feature
At Local 802, musicians support their fellow artists. We’ve recently begun producing a monthly benefit concert called “Jazz in the Afternoon,” featuring top Local 802 talent, with all proceeds benefiting the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund. Below, Jay Leonhart

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Sarah Stone
I joined Local 802 when I was asked to play Handel’s Messiah with Trinity Wall Street last holiday season. As a baroque cellist and gambist, I am part of the movement to bring historically informed performance into the mainstream in

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The Local 802 softball teams played their hearts out this season. As usual, we competed in the Performing Artists Softball League, and 12-team league composed exclusively of Broadway unions and other entertainment professionals in New York City. To get information

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George Wesner is the organ master
George Wesner is the principal organist at Radio City Music Hall and has played over 4,000 shows for more than 23 million people. A Local 802 member since 1981, he has appeared with the American Symphony Orchestra and the Grammy

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FRED HELLERMAN Fred Hellerman, 89, a member of Local 802 for 63 years, died on Sept. 1. Mr. Hellerman was a folksinger, guitarist, producer and songwriter, and was the last surviving member of the Weavers, the group that helped spark

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JACK FEIERMAN Jack Feierman, 91, a trumpeter, arranger, composer and conductor, died on Jan. 19. He had been a member of Local 802 since 1956. Mr. Feierman earned his degree in music education at Eastman, but conducting was his passion.

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Oscar Peñas
I joined Local 802 because it was time to be part of the union and also enjoy its many benefits as a member. My musical goal in New York is to keep growing and learning in this highly creative and

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Roger Blanc
Would you like to see more recording work in New York? If so, you’re not alone. The Recording Musicians Association is a nonprofit advocacy group for recording musicians that strives to benefit union recording musicians in both the United States

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Photo Feature: The Sounds of Summer
At Local 802, musicians support their fellow artists. This year, we began producing a monthly benefit concert series called Jazz in the Afternoon, featuring top Local 802 talent. All proceeds benefit the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund. Below, the

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Guest Commentary
Mario Cilento
An attack on public sector unions is an attack on what all unions do best: speak with one voice to improve the lives of working people The Labor Movement provides the best way for working people to get ahead; particularly

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Photo Feature
At Local 802, musicians support their fellow artists. We’ve recently begun producing a monthly benefit concert called “Jazz in the Afternoon,” featuring top Local 802 talent, with all proceeds benefiting the Local 802 Musicians’ Emergency Relief Fund. Shows typically take

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Jazz Mentors
How do jazz musicians go about securing a viable career? Our new Jazz Mentors program has been attracting enthusiastic crowds to hear top artists tackle this question. As Allegro was going to press, Ron Carter, Bill Charlap, Renee Rosnes and

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Composers ask: will other notation programs do the same?
Richie Vitale
Trumpeter Richie Vitale is a member of Local 802 and a user of Sibelius. Contact him at www.richievitale.com. The notation program Sibelius is changing its pricing model. Instead of buying it and owning it, it is changing to a subscription

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Jason Brook
It’s been a journey from my small town in northern Maine to becoming a professional musician in NYC. My music education was what I thought to be unfocused at first: I started with piano and made my way through saxophone

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Reminiscences
Eric Shumsky
This Women’s History Month, I would like to pay tribute to the violist Lillian Fuchs (1901-1995), who was one of my teachers at Juilliard. She and her brother, Local 802 member and violinist Joseph Fuchs (1899-1997), were part of a

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H.I. Sharrieff
I joined Local 802 because I wanted to return to my NYC roots and emulate my heroes, like Milt Hinton, Bill Crow and Marcus Miller! I’ve served as a military musician, and here in NYC I would love to work

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June 28, 2016
TUESDAY, JUNE 28, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cutler, Hyde, Kruvand, Sharman, Suttmann. President Gagliardi absent on union business. Minutes from June 14,

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Photo Feature: Sounds of Summer
The WASHINGTON SQUARE MUSIC FESTIVAL has enjoyed support from the Music Performance Trust Fund since 1953. Musicians are covered under a union contract. The Festival Chamber Orchestra performed earlier this summer and was conducted by LUTZ RATH. Soloists LARISA ELISHA

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Martha Hyde
What is happening to the Obamacare CO-OPs? I heard from several people this past fall who were subscribers to Health Republic Insurance of New York, which was one of 23 nonprofit alternatives to commercial health insurance. Health Republic shuttered on

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How I adopted my daughter and formed an international nonprofit - all while performing as a Broadway musician
Anja Wood
In the early 1990s, after I earned my master’s degree at the Cleveland Institute of Music, I did what I always wanted to do: I moved east to NYC to become a freelance musician. Wide-eyed and eager, I called up

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Photo Feature
“The Firebird” was Stravinsky’s breakthrough piece in 1910. The American Ballet Theatre recently produced a performance of it, choreographed by the company’s artist in residence, Alexei Ratmansky, which received an outstanding review in the New York Times. On these pages,

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Van Hughes
I joined Local 802 when I played on the Broadway revival of “Spring Awakening.” (I was the assistant music director as well as a musician/actor swing. I conducted and played bass, piano and guitar.) My position at “Spring Awakening” came

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Photo Feature
A recent free concert of Orchestra of St. Luke’s at Hunter College helped young people discover the creative ways that composers interpret nature through music. In a concert co-sponsored by the Music Performance Trust Fund, the orchestra presented Haydn’s Symphony

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Bruno Esrubilsky
I joined Local 802 to play drums on the hit show “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” and do other union jobs, like “America’s Got Talent” at Radio City Music Hall and TV work such as the Today Show. I’m always

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Jeremy Danneman
I joined the union because it was required for a gig I was offered. My musical goal is to record and perform quality music and to reach interested listeners. I also want to be properly paid for my talents, time

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Member to Member
Andrew Schulman
The following excerpt is from Local 802 member Andrew Schulman’s new book, “Waking the Spirit: A Musician’s Journey Healing Body, Mind, and Soul,” coming out this summer from Picador. (Read a review here, and info for the book release event here).

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Fernando Casiano
I joined Local 802 in order to be a member of an organization that truly represents the interests of musicians. I’m also interested in professional networking, union resources and access to other musicians. I’m a vocalist, Latin percussionist and recording

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The Local 802 softball teams played their hearts out this season. As usual, we competed in the Performing Arts Softball League, a 12-team league composed exclusively of Broadway unions and other entertainment professionals in New York City. To get information

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Martha Hyde
Under the Affordable Care Act, Qualified Health Plans (QHPs) are required to cover certain preventive services 100 percent without co-pays, deductibles or coinsurance. This is intended to encourage folks to get tested and screened so if there are any major

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Local 802 member Nicola Vazquez gives an insider's look at busking in the New York City subways
Nicola Vazquez
People always ask me, “What are you doing down here?” I have been a professional busker in the NYC subway with MTA’s Music Under New York program since 2004. I was born on the Lower East Side and grew up

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Member to Member
Ray Chew
One memorable experience that I had with Prince was at the 2006 BET awards tribute to Chaka Khan. Previous to this event, I had met but never worked with Prince. I always found him somewhat aloof by design. I was

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Jihee Heo
I joined Local 802 so I could be connected to other musicians and find people who need a pianist, composer and arranger. Before I moved to NYC, I lived back and forth between Korea and the Netherlands for eight years,

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The 48th Street Big Band
The Local 802 Club Room was swinging in December with the music of the 48th Street Big Band, directed by Roger Rhodes and Glen Daum, featuring arrangements from the Al Porcino collection. The show was a benefit for the Local

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Matthew DeMaria
I rejoined the union after moving back to New York to continue to network further and begin taking more professional gigs. My goal is to work as a theatrical musical director with the ultimate dream being to open a show

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Bill Heigen
I joined Local 802 because I support the work of professional musicians and I see benefits in being part of the largest local union of professional musicians in the world. My musical goal in New York City is to become

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A musical trip to Pakistan to support children's literacy takes some unexpected twists and turns
Rick DellaRatta
Have you ever played a gig where you had to go undercover to keep your life safe? I recently traveled to one of the most dangerous places in the world in order to prove that the art form of jazz

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Melody Giron
I joined Local 802 when I started playing on Broadway and got TV gigs. My musical goal in NYC is to be involved in all the music making that NYC has to offer. I studied classical music but it’s also

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Guitarist Con Astone, 79, died on May 26. He had been a member of Local 802 since 1955. Local 802 received the following tribute from Con Astone’s son Erik: “Now appearing in Heaven, Con Astone, fresh from his club date

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Renata Marinaro
Do you know how to report your health insurance on your tax form? It’s required and it can be complicated, but we have all the info… April 15 is tax day, and that means it’s your last chance to make

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The New York Pops celebrates its birthday with the next generation
Happy birthday, New York Pops! The orchestra celebrated its 33rd birthday in style at Carnegie Hall, where students from the Pops’ “Kids on Stage” music education program performed. The Pops is the largest independent pops orchestra in the country and

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MARTY LASTER Marty Laster, 65, who first joined Local 802 in 1973, died on April 9. Mr. Laster’s career as a violinist, violist, mandolinist and guitarist spanned nearly 50 years. In addition to being a performer, he also composed, arranged,

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LYNN BERMAN Lynn Berman, 86, a trumpeter and a member of Local 802 for over 50 years, died on Nov. 25. Mr. Berman, a veteran who had played in the Army band, earned his undergraduate degree from the University of

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Kate Dillingham
I first joined Local 802 in 1997, on the advice of a very established professional who told me, “If you want to work in this town, you have to be a member of the union!” I became vested in 2005

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August 11, 2015 - September 8, 2015
TUESDAY, AUGUST 11, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. Present: President Gagliardi, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Burridge, Cranshaw, Schwartz, Sharman, Assistant to the President Bond. Minutes from August 4, 2015 reviewed. It was moved

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Laurence Goldman
I rejoined Local 802 to meet and network with musicians in the New York City scene. I love playing classical, jazz, rock and original music, and I am looking for any opportunity to do so. I also compose for film

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Bob Kelly
I joined Local 802 because I was working at the John W. Engeman Theatre at Northport with James Olmstead as the associate conductor on “A Chorus Line.” I moved to the city three years ago because of the NYU graduate

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Scott V. Steyer
I’ve been a committed drummer and percussionist since age ten, spanning a 50-plus-year career in the music industry. Playing clubs and shows by age 14, I broke into the legendary Woodstock music community in the late 1960s and early 70s.

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Marshall McDonald
I re-joined Local 802 when I started subbing for rehearsals at “Shuffle Along” on Broadway. I’ve played lead alto in the Count Basie Band for the last 15 years, and before that played with Lionel Hampton, Illinois Jacquet, Paquito D’Rivera,

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Keith O'Quinn
The New York city music scene lost another familiar face recently. Joe Shepley, 85, a trumpeter and a member of Local 802 since 1955, died on March 26. Allegro printed Joe’s obituary in the June issue, but I’d like to

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ALEX GIRALDO Alex Giraldo, 100, a classical guitarist and bel canto vocalist, died on Jan. 28. He had been a member of Local 802 for 60 years, since 1943. Mr. Giraldo was born in Sahagún, Colombia, a small costal town

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Photo Feature
Grover, Elmo, Cookie Monster and Oscar the Grouch are all backed up by Local 802 musicians who record for “Sesame Street” under a union contract. Allegro photographer Kate Glicksberg was granted access to a recent session  at the Yellow Sound

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Melissa White
I joined Local 802 when I was invited to perform with the Orpheus Chamber Orchestra. My musical goal in New York City is to establish a performing and teaching residency for my string quartet, the Harlem Quartet. My most favorite

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Michael Gennari
As a bassoonist and woodwind doubler I decided to join the union in order to expand my network and open myself up to new opportunities. In college at New Jersey City University back in 2007, I was able to make

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The following two bylaw amendments will be introduced at the Feb. 10 membership meeting. Words that are struck through indicate deleted language. Words that are underlined indicate added or new language. 1. ARTICLE VI: ELECTIONS. NEW SECTION 2. In the

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David Whitwell
I joined Local 802 to be a part of the network of wonderful musicians in the greatest city in the world. My musical goal is to bring brass instruments to a broader audience using narrative programming and new and old

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David White
I rejoined the union after a lapse in membership. I had fallen on tough times and could no longer afford the quarterly fees. At that time, I started to wonder if I was still meant to be a bass player

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Alexa Tarantino
I joined Local 802 (and moved to New York City) to play Maurice Hines’ show “Tappin’ Thru Life” featuring Sherrie Maricle and the DIVA Jazz Orchestra at New World Stages. I am so grateful for the opportunity to work with

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Arnaud Ghillebaert
I joined AFM Local 400 (Hartford, Conn.) when I became a member of the New Haven Symphony Orchestra and then I joined Local 802 soon after. The freelance scene in New York is very rich and diverse, and my goal

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Luke Meyer
I grew up surrounded by music, but it wasn’t until middle school that I knew that music was the career path I wanted in life. As a very reserved and shy kid, there was something about playing in bands, singing

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February 2, 2016 - February 9, 2016
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 2, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:00 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Brandford, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Suttmann. Minutes from January 19, 2016 reviewed. It

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Gwen Laster
I first joined Local 802 to sub on Broadway shows and have access to the various workshops, programs and opportunities offered. After a hiatus of subbing, I rejoined the union to begin subbing on “The King and I” and play

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June 14, 2016
TUESDAY, JUNE 14, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cutler, Dougherty, Kruvand, Sharman, Suttmann, Assistant to the President Bond. President Gagliardi absent on union

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After seven years away, I moved back to New York last year. I joined Local 802 because I want to be a part of the local musical community. My musical goal is to play all the types of music New

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Victor Pablo
I joined the union when I won a subbing position in an Off Broadway show. I moved to NYC from Philly, but I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. I play salsa and Latin percussion, drum set in rock

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Matt SanGiovanni
I joined Local 802 in order to sub on Broadway shows and also to have access to the community of my fellow players. My primary goal in New York is to be a regular Broadway musician subbing and playing my

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Al Greene
I joined Local 802 because I wanted to play electric bass on Broadway. I subbed in “Jersey Boys” when it opened, as well as the show “Memphis.” I also was in quite a few Off Broadway shows, including “Menopause: the

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Hasani Arthur
I joined Local 802 because I would like to make music and pursue my musical career without the worries that follow some artists in this business. I recently performed on the same billing as R&B singer Monifah Carter and I

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Ross Kratter
I re-joined Local 802 in order to work as the bass player at the Gateway Playhouse on Long Island. My musical goal in New York City is to be active in the amazing jazz scene here as well as to

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Reminiscences
Steve Karmen
A date without Moe is a song without sunshine,” I would say to him before the start of every session, parodying a then-current orange juice commercial. And Moe would laugh in his bouncy, guarded way, not really comfortable with direct

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Marissa Faltings
While in NYC, I happened to stroll by the Local 802 building, saw the eighth note on the sign, and walked in off the street. I was directed to the second floor, where I was welcomed as a fellow musician,

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Sally Barr
After living and playing classical violin with tremendous orchestras – and singing and playing with brilliant jazz and fusion groups in Santa Barbara as a member of AFM Local 308 for the past 23 years – I returned to New

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August/September 2016: Andrew Schwartz v. Russell Bartmus. I. CHARGES: Local 802 Officer Andy Schwartz (Recording Vice President) brought charges against Russell Bartmus: violation of Article IV Section 1 (g), “to fail to file properly executed contracts with the Recording Vice

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Ana Rivera
I joined Local 802 in an effort to broaden employment and networking opportunities with other musicians both in and out of the union. I seek to expand on my creative and artistic skills as a singer, instrumentalist and composer in

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Morana Mesic
I joined Local 802 because I have come to a point in my career where I’m not so youthfully self-centered anymore, and my focus has shifted to contemplating the kind of music community in which my colleagues and I work.

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Randall Haywood
I joined Local 802 when I moved to New York to study at Juilliard. I have learned so much in my few years in New York. I absolutely love the networking opportunities the union provides. I have had the privilege

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John Austin Clark
I joined Local 802 immediately when I knew I was relocating to New York City. Being a part of a union is an important aspect of a professional musician’s livelihood and I wanted to be as resourceful as possible with

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Emmanuel Ceysson
After nine years playing principal harp in the Paris Opera, I joined the MET Orchestra as the new principal harp. Joining Local 802 seemed like a very natural thing, coming from union-friendly France! It feels good knowing that our contracts

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Dante Melucci
I joined Local 802 when I won a role in “School of Rock: The Musical.” I was cast as Freddy and I play drums in the production. So I get to be a professional musician and actor at 13 years

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Susanne Chen
I joined Local 802 after spending years working at a day job in the I.T. field. I wanted to rebuild my musical career as quickly as possible, so joining an organization composed of so many top-notch musicians gives me the

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Joshua Snow, LCSW
The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,

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November 10, 2015 - December 15, 2015
NOTE: The Executive Board did not meet on November 3, 2015 TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 10, 2015 Meeting called to order at 11:08 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Olcott, Recording Vice President O’Connor, Executive Board members Brandford, Cutler, Cranshaw, Dougherty,

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Lauren Cauley
I joined Local 802 upon moving to New York. It’s been a great way to meet contractors and other freelancers. I love working with composers, playing chamber music and in small ensembles, and recording. My goal is to do as

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
I recently heard a clip on YouTube of Yo-Yo Ma playing Saint-Saens’ “The Swan,” very beautifully. It took me back to the record player that was in our house when I was a child, an Edison cylinder machine that you

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Simon Holland
I am a bassoonist who doubles on saxes, clarinets and flute. For more eclectic tastes, I also play the didgeridoo! My aim is to play in a Broadway pit orchestra. Having spent the last 20 years playing in London’s West

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Ben Bonnema
I joined Local 802 to work as a copyist on the Broadway show “On Your Feet! The Story of Emilio and Gloria Estefan.” Primarily, though, I am a composer-lyricist. I earned my master’s at NYU’s graduate musical theatre writing program.

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Reminiscences
Charles Harrington Elster
My father, Reinhardt Elster, who died peacefully at 101 on Oct. 5, 2015 at his home in Massachusetts, was fond of telling a story about Sir Thomas Beecham, the English conductor. As the story goes, Beecham was in a graveyard

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Photo Feature
The music from “Fiddler on the Roof” is magical, and it stays in your head forever. Local 802 musicians recently recorded the cast album soundtrack at MSR studios, enjoying the wages, protections and benefits of a union contract. Allegro photographer

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Jorge Casas
I transferred to Local 802 when I got involved playing bass in the new Broadway musical “On Your Feet,” which I also co-orchestrated. My musical goals in New York City are to expand my talents in the best city in

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Darren Lucas
I joined Local 802 after moving from Minneapolis, where I was a member of AFM Local 30-73. I’ve been touring with various Broadway musicals as a guitarist. Most recently, I played in the national tour of “Sister Act,” where I

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
In 1980, I was playing in Joe Grimm’s band at the Coachlight Theater in Nanuet, New York, for a dinner theater production of “South Pacific.” Julius LaRosa was the star. One afternoon before the show, some of the musicians and

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Arnie Tanimoto
I joined the union so that I could participate in more musical activities in New York. My goal is to become an active performer and teacher of early music in New York City. My most favorite recent gig was a

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Samir Chatterjee
I joined Local 802 for my teaching job at the New School for Jazz and Contemporary Music. I play tabla, and my musical goal in NYC is to propagate and preserve Indian music. One of my favorite recent gigs was

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April 26, 2016 - May 10, 2016
TUESDAY, APRIL 26, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:00 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Sharman, Suttmann, Assistant to the President Bond. Minutes

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Calvin Sexton
The first thing I was always taught to do when I was a young musician coming up in Birmingham, Alabama was to join the musicians’ union. When I was a music student at the University of North Texas, I immediately

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Christopher Gurr
I am excited to be a member of Local 802, working as a pianist, music director and arranger in New York City. I joined the union to be a part of Broadway and Off Broadway productions such as “Clinton: the

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Bill Crow
Where the New York University Law Center now stands on Washington Square South, there used to be a joint called the Open Door. It was just a neighborhood bar, but it had a small bandstand on which various jazz groups

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
When Robert Lindner got a call in 1990 from the Steven Scott office to play at John Gotti Jr.’s wedding at the Helmsley Palace, he was originally booked to play cocktail piano music at 7 p.m. in a separate room

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Sarah Franklin
I joined Local 802 last year. I’m the principal second violin of New York Festival Orchestra, Astoria Symphony, Metro Chamber Orchestra, Astoria Symphony and Ensemble 212. I also serve as section violin of Distinguished Concerts International New York, Spectrum Symphony

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March 22, 2016 - April 19, 2016
[The Executive Board did not meet on April 12, 2016] TUESDAY, MARCH 22, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:10 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Burridge, Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Kruvand, Sharman,

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Gregory Landes
I was diagnosed with colon cancer on June 25, 2010. I was 45 years old. I had always been in tune with my body and I sensed something was not quite right. Along with other symptoms, I started losing weight.

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January 5, 2016 - February 16, 2016
NOTE: The Executive Board did not meet on Dec. 22, 2015 or Dec. 29, 2015. TUESDAY, JANUARY 5, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:12 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board

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Carlen J. Mandas
I have lived in Fairfield County, Connecticut since 1984. I have fallen in love with the arts community in that area, but I also truly appreciate the high caliber of talent available in New York City! I am looking for

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February 23, 2016 - March 15, 2016
TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:05 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Brandford, Cranshaw, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Sharman, Assistant to the President Bond. President Gaglardi absent on union

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Kyle Wilbert
I transferred to Local 802 from AFM Local 105 (Spokane, Washington), where I served as principal horn of the Spokane Symphony Orchestra. I’m proud to be a member of our union. The union not only brings us together as a

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
Dave McKenna (1930-2008) was a one-of-a-kind piano player. He often denied that he was a jazz player, even though he was steeped in the music. “I’m a song player,” he would say, and he certainly played all the wonderful songs

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
When I was growing up in Kirkland, Washington, my mother, Lucile Crow, was a soprano and often sang on radio stations in Seattle. One day she received a fan letter from a lady who had heard her on the Gold

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JOE CABOT Joe Cabot, 94, died on March 7, after being a member of Local 802 since 1947. Mr. Cabot’s career as a trumpet player, bandleader and musical director spanned nearly seven decades. Born Joseph Claude Caputo, he grew up

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Frank Galgano
I joined Local 802 after orchestrating regional and children’s theatre shows for a while and wanting to open the door to more exciting jobs in NYC. I also like the idea of joining a community of musicians who have been

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News from the Actors Fund
Sarah Meier-Zimbler
The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,

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Yes - it's for musicians, too!
Tamar Shapiro, LCSW
The Actors Fund is your one-stop shop for almost any kind of service you can imagine. We offer counseling – both one-on-one and in groups – as well as information on all kinds of social services, including health insurance, housing,

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Meredith Moore
I joined Local 802 because I just moved to NYC from London and started getting work playing horn in some Broadway shows. When I was working in London, I was unable to join the British Musicians’ Union because I was

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
In 1945, William Zinn had an audition for the Pittsburgh Symphony at 11 a.m. at Steinway Hall. Zinn lived in the Bronx, and the trains were slow that morning, so he arrived on 57th Street with only five minutes to

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May 17, 2016 -- June 7, 2016
TUESDAY, MAY 17, 2016 Meeting called to order at 11:07 a.m. by Financial Vice President Olcott. Present: Recording Vice President Schwartz, Executive Board members Cranshaw, Dougherty, Hyde, Sharman, Suttmann, Assistant to the President Bond. President Gagliardi absent. Minutes from May

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Local 802 Member Larry Abel brought charges against Bill Brohn, Sam Davis, Doug Houston, Anne Kaye, David Loud, Paul Masse, Neil Reilly: violation of Article 4 Section 1, “It shall be a violation and detrimental to the welfare of this

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
In a jazz cruise I once played, I was able to take my wife, Aileen. She already knew some of the musicians, like Clark Terry, Joe Cohn and Milt Hinton. She soon became friends with many of the others, and

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Howard Alper
I first joined Local 802 when doing some recording work for Corey Glover on his LaFace recording “Hymns.” It was my first experience with high-level professional music work. After a few years, I let my membership lapse. I decided to

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Kallie Ciechomski
I joined Local 802 a few years ago in order to sub for the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. I had just moved back to New York after playing with New World Symphony, and the Christmas Spectacular was one

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The Band Room
Bill Crow
I met Derek Smith when he first moved from London to New York City. Before there were Playboy clubs, there was an outfit called the Cliff Dwellers that ran open parties for young singles in a location on 5th Avenue

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Caitlin Warbelow
I re-joined Local 802 after I was asked to be a violin/fiddle sub for Sting’s new musical “The Last Ship,” which I was very excited to be a part of, despite its brief run! Many years ago, I was also

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ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY January 15, 2017 for the benefit period that begins March 1, 2017. Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed between July 1 to December 31, 2016 can be reported on

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Barbara Ann Schmutzler
As a bassoonist and contrabassoonist with the Jerusalem Symphony Orchestra, I have been covered collectively by the Israeli union (Histadrut) for more than 20 years. After arriving in NYC and becoming a freelancer for the first time in my career,

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Lawrence Varner McCrobie
As a member of AFM Local 11-637 in Louisville, I developed a great deal of respect for what it is that the union does for professional musicians. After several years of membership there, I decided to focus on my career

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Tom Burda
I joined Local 802 after performing with Annaleigh Ashford for a Broadway.com promotional video. The experience sparked my interest in getting involved with Broadway pits. I am a guitarist and my musical goal in the city is to be the

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Nicole Cosme
As a recent college graduate, I joined Local 802 to start my professional career in music. I am an orchestrator/arranger, composer and classically trained violinist, and am eager to find new orchestration and performance opportunities. I have been fortunate enough

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Kevin M. Lynch
I joined Local 802 to make connections, to network with other musicians in the area, and to take advantage of the resources the union has to offer. My musical goal is to music direct a Broadway musical or work in

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Josh Plotner
I originally joined AFM Local 9-535 in Boston to play on the Today Show with Meghan Trainor (of “All About That Bass” fame), but it ended up falling through. I moved to New York almost a year ago, and joined

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Piotr Pawlak
Before coming to the U.S., I worked as a pit musician at a musical theatre in Poznan, Poland. I came here to pursue a graduate degree in jazz performance and composition. That led to performances in regional theatres in New

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Bill Crow
I’ve pretty well figured out my computer, and I’m still figuring out how to use some of the features on my cell phone. The telephone has undergone some amazing changes since I first figured out how to use one. When

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The Actors Fund is a national human services organization that helps everyone who works in performing arts and entertainment – including musicians! Programs include social services and emergency financial assistance, health care and insurance counseling, housing and employment and training

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Music touches all souls. Recently, Local 802 member Svjetlana Kabalin (flute) led her Sylvan Winds ensemble in a performance at the 74th Street Residence Senior Center to the delight of the audience. The job, which was covered under a Local

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