Here are several more letters (along with the link to the one mentioned by DHP)

Absolutely stuff the board wouldn't want out for public eyes. Quite embarrassing in my opinion, too bad it is public record. They are all nicely laid out on this link:

http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2007/12/kids-at-chris-1.html#more

The ignorance and cockiness of this board is unbelievable. Do other cities have board members like this?

DHP

Yep.

I think that the board (incorrectly) believes that it's acting in the JSO's best interests, hard as that may be to believe.

These are mostly people from the business world, (or at least, rich people) and it's a foregone conclusion to most of them that you have to be tough on unions and play hardball, otherwise the union will bankrupt the "business". They think that orchestras should be "leaner" and "more efficient" so that they can be economically sustained more easily.

Unfortunately, we as musicians know what that leads to - a decline in artistic quality. When boards realize that the music we create is the actual "profit" that the "business" known as a symphony orchestra makes, priorities might begin to shift. In our present culture, though, where business leaders are regarded as demi-gods capable of solving all the worlds problems, I don't see these perceptions changing very rapidly.

I am rather surprised that no local paper is writing on this! Although I guess I shouldn't be surprised since the people at the top of Jacksonville's paper are on the orchestra board.

Here is the orchestra member's response:
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2007/12/jacksonville-mu.html

And here is more:
http://www.adaptistration.com/adaptistration/2007/12/debunking-some.html

Does anyone know if the Maestro is still getting paid?

Here is the latest news article: nothing new.
http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/123007/met_230105178.shtml

The executive director is on vacation in the mountains of North Carolina, the music director is probably on vacation in Brazil, both are getting paid. The musicians will have their health insurance expire in 10 minutes! Happy New Year!

quote:

Originally posted by DHP:
The executive director is on vacation in the mountains of North Carolina, the music director is probably on vacation in Brazil, both are getting paid. The musicians will have their health insurance expire in 10 minutes! Happy New Year!

& in the meantime, some people still think musicians do this "for fun" & that it's not a real job. it boggles my mind that people have the audacity to even ask a musician "oh, so you actually get paid for that?" &/or "you mean you can play music with a music degree?" oh yes, like we just went to college for fun & just feel like racking up loans & credit cards on instruments that are worth more than vehicles for the heck of it too!