“How management’s self-inflicted wounds are killing Minnesota’s two world-class orchestras — and what to do about it”

MinnPost published this article by SOSPCO’s Jon Eisenberg on June 10, 2013.  Here’s the lead paragraph: When a disturbed individual deliberately provokes law-enforcement officers in a threatening way and provokes a lethal response, we call it “suicide by cop.” When the boards and managements of the Minnesota Orchestra (MNO) and St. Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) engage in lockouts that [...]

SPCO Resignations and Remaining Musicians

SPCO musicians continue to announce their retirements and resignations from the orchestra. The special retirement incentive (for musicians over age 55) is available until June 17, 2013. Here is the roster as of June 8: Violins Steven Copes, Concertmaster Ruggero Allifranchini, Associate Concertmaster Kyu-Young Kim, Principal Second Violin Thomas Kornacker, Co-Principal Second Violin – retired [...]

Guiding Principles

With the lockout over, it is fantastic to see the musicians performing again! However, there is an ill wind in the air. The Supplemental Retirement Package (SRP) remains open until June 17 for a large number of musicians who are age 55+. The orchestra remains in more than a bit of disarray with six principal [...]

SOSPCO Announces Fundraising Drive to Obtain “Audience” Board Seats; Exploratory Committee to Continue

In response to the SPCO Musicians’ ratification of their contract with SPCO management, the Save Our SPCO (SOSPCO) organization announces the launch of an initiative to pool financial contributions of audience members to seek representation on The SPCO Board and to support more positive and effective management into the future. The objective of this fundraising [...]

Musicians Reject Latest Contract Offer 4/1/13

In a non-binding, non-ratification vote on April 1, The Musicians of The SPCO rejected the latest contact offer from SPCO management. Read all the details in their press release here:  http://musiciansspco.org/2013/04/01/musicians-of-the-spco-reject-latest-proposal-with-non-binding-non-ratification-vote/ Read about management’s response, and the musicians’ reply here:  http://musiciansspco.org/2013/04/02/update-on-yesterdays-vote-from-dobson-west-to-the-spco-family-and-the-response-from-the-st-paul-chamber-orchestra-musicians-negotiating-committee/ Find links to media coverage and commentary on our Facebook page – click the [...]

Save Our SPCO Announces Exploratory Committee to Examine Forming New Chamber Orchestra Society

Read all about it in our press release:     More details can be found in SOSPCO Chair Mariellen Jacobson’s statement from our March 26 press conference:    April 6 Update: Despite the additional progress that was made this past week in the negotiations between SPCO management and musicians with the involvement of Mayor Coleman, [...]