Allegro
Currently Browsing: December, 2017
The Year in Review
Local 802 accomplished many great things in 2017, with more to come in the year ahead
As 2017 comes to a close, it’s a good time to reflect on Local 802’s accomplishments and challenges this past year. To begin our look back, let’s remember us at our best. Many of you came together with Local 802
LS-1 Contract Deadline is January 15, 2018
ALL LS-1 CONTRACTS MUST BE SUBMITTED BY JAN. 15, 2018 FOR THE BENEFIT PERIOD THAT BEGINS MARCH 11, 2018 Only teaching (private and institutional) and/or solo, live engagements performed between July 1 and December 31, 2017 can be reported on
Local 802’s Latest Audit Shows Stability
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, 2017 to June 30, 2017,
Local 802 gains $36K in first six months of 2017
For the six-month period from Jan. 1, 2017 to June 30, 2017, Local 802 realized a gain of $36,838. The audited financial statements appear in the printed version of Allegro. The Statement of Activities remained relatively constant when comparing 2016
New Year’s Resolution: Be An Activist!
As 2017 closes its doors, I’m taking a look back at some of the things I’ve said in these pages. I’ve reported twice this year about the union’s financial condition. Thankfully, Local 802’s finances remain consistent and sustaining. I’ve commented
#METOO: A Story of Resistance & Resilience in the Music Industry
In the wake of the “Me Too” awareness this year, I’ve found myself reflecting on my personal experiences as a musician and my encounters with sexual harassment and sexism in the music industry. To say I have never experienced biased
Don’t Suffer in Silence
Legal Corner
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
Local 802 Announces New Grant Program
Emerging artist project will support new artists & bands
Musicians today are facing challenges unlike ever before, as new technologies and business models force them to steer their careers through an increasingly exploitative and unaffordable world. Addressing these challenges is a priority for the leadership of this union. Our
Building on Our Momentum for 2018
Music & Politics
On Nov. 7, voters across the country went to the polls and cast their votes for local elected representatives. Democrats in Virginia erased a 66-to-34 deficit in the House of Delegates while also winning the governorship and lieutenant governorship. The
‘If I Were a Musician’
Our elected officials sound off about their musical tastes, the music in their district…and what instrument they wish they played! NILY ROZIC Since 2012, Assemblymember Nily Rozic has represented Assembly District 25, comprising the communities of Flushing, Queensboro Hill, Hillcrest,
United, We’re Strong!
A progressive deal for musicians at the Winter Jazzfest
Now in its 14th year, Winter Jazzfest has become one of the premier events in the New York cultural calendar. The festival showcases a broad spectrum of musical styles, featuring both established names and up-and-coming acts from New York City
Fighting for Our Future
Oranizing Matters
Maggie Russell-Brown is the director of organizing and field services. If you’re playing a job where you feel disrespected or know that you aren’t being paid fairly, contact Maggie at (212) 245-4802, ext. 157 or mrussell@local802afm.org. You can also call
Jazz Mentors 12: Maintaining Creative Autonomy
All photos by Walter Karling The Jazz Mentors series held one of its most successful events to date in early November. “Jazz Mentors 12: Maintaining Our Creative Autonomy” was presented to a large gathering of Manhattan School of Music jazz
“1,000 Nuts and I Haven’t Cracked Up…Yet!”
I will play my 1,000th performance of “The Nutcracker” with the NYC Ballet Orchestra on Sunday, Dec. 17 at 1 p.m. When I joined the company almost 30 years ago, they took one glance and correctly grasped that I did
Unfair List
Joseph (Joe) McGinty has been placed on the AFM International Unfair List at the request of Local 802 due to his engagement of musicians at rates of pay and under standards and conditions considered unfair and unacceptable in the industry.
Classical Musicians Come Together
At our core, we are a supportive, caring community
Hi there! If you are working a lot in the concert field, you may have been seeing a lot of me lately. I’m the one in the back of the hall with the glasses and big hair. As your union
Reflections of a Master – Insights from Ahmad Jamal
Feature Interview
Pianist and composer Ahmad Jamal is a living legend. A member of Local 802 since 1964, Mr. Jamal was born in Pittsburgh, where he attended the same school as Erroll Garner. (In fact, as he likes to recount, both he
It’s Time to Promote Yourself
Local 802’s online musician referral directory is now open for enrollment at NewYorkMusicians.com. Take advantage of this new promotional tool. It’s a benefit of being a member of Local 802 – and it’s FREE! Promote your services on two different
Music Heals
How artists are helping my Puerto Rico recover - and what we can all do
Hurricane Maria left an apocalyptic devastation earlier this fall as it castigated my homeland of Puerto Rico and left no corner untouched. Almost three months after the systemic destruction, the government has made little progress in restoring power – nearly
Reminiscences
Rick Northcutt and Fred Staton
RICK NORTHCUTT My brother and best friend, Richard Conn Northcutt, 74, an accordionist and a member of Local 802 since 1985, died on Oct. 14. Rick made his first “public appearance” in Norman, Oklahoma on Jan. 12, 1943 to our
Remembering Vincent La Selva
We lost a hero on Oct. 9. Conductors, singers, instrumentalists and music lovers all mourned the passing of Maestro Vincent La Selva, who died at the age of 88 just a day before the birthday of his muse, Giuseppe Verdi.
Executive Board Minutes
June 20, 2017 - August 8, 2017
The Executive Board did not meet on July 4 or July 25. TUESDAY, JUNE 20, 2017 Meeting called to order at 11:25 a.m. by President Gagliardi. Present: Financial Vice President Olcott, Executive Board members Brandford, Cutler, Dougherty, Hyde, Sharman, Suttmann,
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 to be a part of David Byrne’s “Joan of Arc: Into the Fire,” which played at the Public Theatre. My instruments are trumpet and flugelhorn, and I was the only horn player in the show. We
‘Why we joined the union’
The deciding factor in my rejoining Local 802 was an offer to sub on the Broadway show “Indecent,” but it was really just the little push I needed to once again become part of what I think of as an
‘Why we joined the union’
I rejoined Local 802 after getting a call from Rolfe Kent looking for a pianist for Alexander Payne’s new film “Downsizing.” I had been a union member in the 1970s and 80s but then we moved to rural Connecticut where
‘Why we joined the union’
I joined Local 802 after retiring from the Army, where I served as a musician for almost 23 years. I relocated to New York City for a second career playing in pit orchestras as well as any other music I
‘Why we joined the union’
Since relocating to New York City two years ago, after completing my master’s degree from Bard College, I have begun pursing a career as a conductor, music director and pianist. I joined Local 802 because I had been contracted to
The Band Room
December '17
When I first moved to New York City in 1950, I had very little income for the first year I was here. I came to town playing a valve trombone, but was soon transformed into a bass player by Buzzy