News Briefs

International Musician, Apr 2008

New Partnership with Nissan in Nashville

Nissan North America and the Nashville Symphony recently announced a five-year partnership, aimed at expanding music education for children in middle Tennessee. Nissan's $500,000 contribution to the Nashville Symphony, distributed over the next five years, will provide support for the orchestra's new education initiative called "One Note, One Neighborhood at a Time." This program will use the Stratford School Cluster in East Nashville as a flagship and will be presented April 2 at Dan Mills Elementary.

Special Recording in Columbus

With plans by management to reduce the musicians' ranks, the Columbus Symphony Orchestra (CSO) is working to make a special recording that will preserve the orchestra's current sound. The orchestra, whose members belong to Local 103 (Columbus, OH), recorded two works by Tchaikovsky-Symphony no. 5 and the "Romeo and Juliet: Fantasy Overture"-in concert March 7 and 9. Recording expenses have been underwritten by Gene D'Angelo, the CSO's former board chair.

San Francisco Celebrates Educational Program

San Francisco Symphony (SFS) is observing the 20th anniversary of its Adventures in Music (AIM) program. AIM, an educational partnership between the symphony and the San Francisco Unified School District, began in 1988 and is now the longest-running community music education program run by an American orchestra. With AIM, the Youth Orchestra, and the Keeping Score multimedia program led by Music Director Michael Tilson Thomas (MTT) of Locals 47 (Los Angeles) and 9-535 (Boston), SFS has been widely recognized for its educational efforts and community outreach in the San Francisco area.

Tucson Symphony Rejoins AFM

The musicians of the Tucson Symphony Orchestra have voted to reaffiliate with the AFM. Work is underway to negotiate a new CBA for the musicians, and the AFM will temporarily serve as the local to oversee the orchestra and to facilitate bargaining. AFM Negotiator Chris Durham began meeting with the orchestra musicians and management. "I look forward to seeing them return with a good contract," he says.