On KSTP News on Thursday evening, 3/14, Alicia and Chris talk about the growing stresses and financial difficulties coming from the lockout. Read the report “Locked Out Musicians: Financial Toll Becoming Dire” and view it here: http://kstp.com/news/stories/s2964126.shtml?cat=1
3/11/13 Update: According to the Legislature’s “bill tracker” page, HF 602 (which incorporates the former HF 601) was passed in its amended form by the House Labor, Workplace & Regulated Industries Committee today and referred to the Jobs & Economic Development Finance & Policy Committee. It isn’t listed on the JEDFP committee’s agendas yet. The [...]
Sad news from the musicians. Stay tuned for further developments. http://musiciansspco.org/2013/03/06/st-paul-minnesota-march-6-2013-the-musicians-of-the-spco-said-today-that-they-are-disappointed-by-managements-refusal-to-compromise-resulting-in-the-breakdown-of-contract-talks/
On March 5, SPCO Management announced another month’s-worth of concert cancellations, through April 21. That announcement can be found here: http://www.thespco.org/concerts-tickets/concert-cancellations The Musicians of The SPCO voiced concerns about the organization’s continued viability in their update on the day’s negotiations. That announcement can be found here: http://musiciansspco.org/2013/03/05/musicians-of-spco-concerned-about-the-organizations-continued-viability-after-management-cancels-more-concerts/ If you hold tickets for canceled concerts (even [...]
Save Our SPCO Core Team members Jon & Jill Eisenberg sent this articulate, comprehensive and direct letter to SPCO Management and Board on March 4. They express their anger and frustration at the “talk and talk and talk” negotiations strategy that seems to be leading nowhere. They counter SPCO claims about finances and ticket prices. [...]
Both the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra and the Minnesota Orchestra have received significant funding from the Minnesota Legacy Amendment’s Arts & Cultural Heritage Fund. The House of Representatives Legacy Committee, chaired by Representative Phyllis Kahn, sought public comment from management, musicians and the community. SPCO Board Chair and President Dobson West attended this Hearing, but [...]
Months ago, SPCO management received notification from the Musicians Union that union musicians can not work for the Liquid Music series as long as the orchestra is locked out. But somehow management convinced union musicians Sarah Kirkland Snider and yMusic that it would be OK. On Tuesday they withdrew from this series, but non-union musician [...]
“Save Our SPCO” is very sad to report that SPCO Principal Second Violinist Kyu-Young Kim and his family will be leaving the Twin Cities for New York City, where he will take a position with the New York Philharmonic that he won in their most recent audition held on Saturday February 16. For the full story [...]
The Musicians of The SPCO have provided details about the remaining open questions and concerns related to the Society’s “Play and Talk” proposal. Visit their website to find up-to-date news about the negotiations: You can read the document that details their concerns on their website or here: requests-for-responses-to-previous-proposals-and-request-for-information-2-15-13-f
In response to an early-January invitation from SPCO Board Chair and President Dobson West, seven members of Save Our SPCO presented findings, observations, topics for discussion and proposals to Mr. West, three other Board members and two staff members on February 11. Click here to view the presentation: SOSPCO Presentation 2013-02-11r