Published letters to the Editor
2009-2010 Season Articles
2008-2009 Season Articles
Published Letters to the Editor
Reviews
City Paper, Wednesday, March 11, 2009
Inactive Board
I am writing this letter in concern for the future of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra.
Even though my job has forced me to move out of the area, each year I make my annual contribution to the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, and my employer matches my contribution. This year I am hesitant to make a contribution to an organization that from all outward appearances seems ready to accept failure, more specifically, a lack of effort on the part of the board of directors.
While the musicians are actively pursuing fund-raising activities and community awareness, the board of directors seem resigned to let the orchestra fail, perhaps to be reorganized as a shadow of its past glory, or perhaps to lose the culture and community service that it has provided entirely. I would expect a responsible board of directors to be beating the bushes for money and organizing fund-raisers. Outside of what the musicians themselves are doing, I see no such activity.
I would imagine that other regular contributors share my concerns about making significant contributions at this time. If we want to save the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, shake up the board. Let's see some action indicating that they have plans for a successful season. Then the hesitant supporters will be more willing to send in the contributions.
Brian Schuh
Everett, Wash.
Post and Courier, Saturday, March 7, 2009
A dose of realism
So now Mayor Riley wants to spend over $700,000 just to start the planing on a new cultural activity for the city, an International African-American museum, one that will then require perpetual annual funding in addition to the actual building cost. I suggest that the money would be far better spent on two existing cultural activities.
The Old Slave Mart Museum could well use a boost of income to continue with its acquisition of artifacts of history. The rest should go to the existing Charleston Symphony Orchestra. Make no mistake about it, the orchestra is either headed toward becoming a shadow of its former self or to cease entirely. Either way, its loss to the city, whose cultural attributes are the base of its important tourism and business trade, would be immeasurable. This money could greatly help keep the orchestra going, rather than starting another struggling new museum (we still do not know if the aquarium will make it).
And then there is more money allocated to follow the Sofa Super Store fire disaster. I say enough is enough. It was indeed a spectacular loss when nine persons died at the same time, but on a family-to- family basis it was the same as when anyone dies accidentally, be it truck driver, policeman, pedestrian or cyclist. Are we going to permanently set up public funding for counseling for every family who suffers such a loss?
Let's rethink this stimulus funding and get realistic about it.
Fred Sales
Charleston
Post and Courier, Friday, March 6, 2009
Downsizing CSO
As a lover of live music and friend of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, I'd like to ask some questions about the health of this wonderful group and its leadership. In these difficult economic times, it isn't hard to imagine that some arts groups are suffering, but despite the problems, many are holding steady and others are flourishing.
From what I have seen in the media, it seems that the CSO's board of directors is actively negotiating with the musicians and is seeking to cut salaried performers' jobs. CSO musicians tell me that no formal request to open their contract has been made and that no proposal of equal cuts on management's side has been offered. Since it appears that the orchestra's board isn't really attempting to "downsize" this group, I wonder what new aggressive fund raising strategies the board is preparing.
Is the CSO board's fund-raising committee working to increase revenue, developing new relationships with untapped potential donors and soliciting income-generating ideas from musicians and the public?
Also, I've heard nothing about next season. Can it be possible that the orchestra's board would refuse to sell tickets?
By neglecting to do this, wouldn't the CSO management be withholding a life-giving shot of income from this group?
I strongly believe that the Charleston Symphony Orchestra adds a great deal to life in the Lowcountry. I fervently hope its leadership feels the same.
SUSAN E. KRAYBILL
Daniel Island
Post and Courier, Thursday, March 5, 2009
Save Orchestra
It's been distressing to hear about the problems the Charleston Symphony is having financially and how, instead of raising more money, it's trying to get more concessions from the musicians including, apparently, wanting to cut positions.
Charleston is very fortunate to have a wonderful full-time professional orchestra. The musicians play from September to May, playing in the schools, teaching children, contributing to music in the churches and special events, as well as teaching in local universities.
Savannah was once fortunate to have an organization of this kind but it went bankrupt six years ago. Without regular positions with the Savannah Symphony, more than half the musicians who were here have moved away, leaving a huge void in the community.
Having an orchestra of the quality of Charleston's with the skilled professional musicians contributing to the community is not something to take for granted. The board needs to raise the money instead of asking for yet more concessions from the musicians. Don't let what happened to Savannah happen in Charleston.
SARAH SCHENKMAN
Former member
Savannah Symphony Orchestra
Savannah, Ga.
Post and Courier, Wednesday, Fabruary 25, 2009
Smaller Orchestra
I am unbelievably dismayed at the Charleston Symphony board's proposal to cut the size of the symphony. Our city's orchestra is as small as it can be without becoming a chamber group.
Let us all think about this for a moment. What live music do we enjoy? Beethoven, Mahler, Stravinsky, Brahms? It can't happen if the orchestra is any smaller. If the orchestra is slashed to a pitiful handful, there will not be a group large enough to support guest soloists, and there will be too few brass for those thrilling fanfares I always hear so many raves about.
I reject the notion that in order to save the symphony we must cut it. It is musical lobotomy. Our city found generosity in the millions for renovating performance venues. Can't we find an ounce of that to keep the city's finest group to perform in them?
If you cut the musicians, you kill the orchestra. For the love of music, help the symphony by helping them raise funds.
JOHN SAMUEL ROPER
Mount Pleasant
Post and Courier, Sunday, November 23, 2008
Musical Orchid
As a member of the Charleston Symphony Orchestra, I'm sadly not surprised when I hear people say that they are cutting back on their donations to nonprofit organizations.
I'm somewhat mystified, however, when I hear people say: "Why is the orchestra always so strapped for cash?" or "I've given to the CSO in the past, but I won't give again until the orchestra is fixed."
By "fixed," I assume they mean that the orchestra should function more like a for-profit business or be run more efficiently so that it wouldn't need to continually solicit donations.
Indeed, business people everywhere would surely blanch if they saw our balance sheets. The truth is that orchestras such as ours, which lack enormous endowments, are horribly inefficient enterprises. Productivity can't be meaningfully increased. A Mozart symphony still requires as many hours to prepare for as it did 50 years ago. The concert master cannot play the trombone part and the flutist cannot pluck the strings of the harp with her toes.
Still, there is one model on which some orchestras are based that increases efficiency. It works in much the same way that a mega fast-food chain produces hamburgers.
In this model musicians are paid low hourly wages and are hired on an "as needed" basis. This, of course, doesn't provide a living wage, so musicians must scramble to find other income, leaving little time to prepare their parts or maintain proficiency on their instruments. This lack of preparation time is our equivalent to the frozen meat patty. The lack of health benefits, maternity leave and sick leave increases attrition, which further compromises quality.
Most of these orchestras' budgets are spent on flashy guest artists, marketing and a music director who acts as the face of the orchestra in the community. There's often nothing left for education programs or introducing school children to great music. Even so, an orchestra is put on stage, and, like our burger, the components seem to be there — it basically looks right. How does this burger taste? That might depend on whom you ask.
Tending to the health and longevity of a fine symphony orchestra is closer to cultivating orchids than it is to making fast food. The orchid lovers I know will put a tremendous amount of money, care and energy into their beloved plants only to see the flower fade and have to begin the whole process again. Why would any right-minded person choose to grow orchids over sturdier plants, which provide a greater return, such as cabbage or pole beans? Ask any orchid lover and they'll tell you that it's a passion for beauty, a zest for the exceptional and a joy at experiencing something so near to perfection. The love, time and money put in are a small price to pay for the soul-lifting gift received.
I may be biased since my financial future hangs in the balance, but when we choose efficiency over great art and beauty, isn't something of our humanity forever lost?
BETH ALBERT
Principal timpanist
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
North Charleston
Post and Courier, Sunday, November 23, 2008
Beautiful Music
We have arguably the best symphony orchestra in the Southeast. The Charleston Symphony Orchestra is here for us all year, playing absolutely beautiful music.
This has been the case for the past 72 years, and for the past 25 years, Conductor David Stahl has built the finest small-budget orchestra in the country. All that is about to change in December.
The orchestra's donations are off 50 percent from last year. Unless everyone and every business in the Charleston community steps up and donates now, we will lose one of Charleston's biggest assets.
We also will lose the $8 million annually that the musicians and orchestra contribute economically to the community.
Please, everyone who can possibly donate, do so and save this great institution that is uniquely Charleston. Please give as much as you can. You may send your tax-deductable contributions to: CSO, 145 King Street, Suite 311, Charleston, S.C. 29401.
JOHN KUHN
Former Board Member
Charleston Symphony Orchestra
Charleston
Post and Courier, Sunday, February 22, 2009
'Sell' the orchestra
No, I don't mean putting the CSO up for sale. I mean marketing. Sell, baby, sell!
It is very disheartening to hear about the orchestra's money problems when one attends a concert with hardly any audience. I think that the Jan. 31 Family Concert at Mount Moriah Baptist Church had more performers than listeners, and it wasn't the first time this has happened. This exposes a fundamental flaw in the way the orchestra has been and is being managed.
Remember the movie "Field of Dreams"? "If you build it, they will come."
Perhaps if you told people about the concert, you'd have an audience. I am a former 14-year member of the CSO, and I remember the days when the Family/Children's concerts were packed. Better marketing? Better location? Maybe. Perhaps better financial times.
However, no one will come if people aren't told there is a concert to attend. Many schools send home "Friday folders" or some sort of weekend communication to parents.
I didn't see anything about that concert in our weekend folder and never have. I bet it would have brought a good-sized paying audience, especially if there was a two-for-one special for bringing the flyer. People want a good deal.
The musicians of the CSO are amazingly talented. It is the only full-time professional orchestra in South Carolina. These concerts are a wonderful way to bring live classical music to children of all ages in a fun and educational way. But if the management isn't savvy enough to market their gem of an orchestra properly, we are going to forever lose the sparkle it brings to the Lowcountry.
Susan Messersmith
Former CSO member
North Charleston