News
Recent Articles
Colorado Ballet Auditions for Bassoon/Contrabassoon
Jun 16This is a contract position beginning with the 2013/14 Season. Compensation is currently $102/service plus a 5.45% pension contribution for the 2012-2013 Season. A new agreement is being negotiated.
Auditions will be held on July 11, 2013 at the Colorado Ballet facility at 1278 Lincoln St. in Denver. To apply please email a one-page resume to Steve Simpson, Personnel Manager at steve.simpson@yahoo.com Complete information will be provided upon receipt of resume.
Read more… / CommentDMA Boycott of Make Music Denver
Jun 7Just Say NO
The DMA Board of Directors is officially boycotting Make Music Denver. This is a formal request of DMA members who are asked not to perform for MMD until this matter is resolved. The DMA also encourages all non-union musicians to honor this boycott, especially since there is no loss in income and no valid contracts to break. We should instead dedicate our time to the true meaning of World Music Day, which is anything but exploitation of musicians.
Please contact Pete Vriesenga at pvriesenga@aol.com if you have any questions.
Read more… / CommentThe Good, the Bad and the Ugly
May 30A new generation of nonprofit organizations
… and their impact on your livelihood
By Pete Vriesenga
On May 28 I filed a formal complaint with the Colorado Dept. of Labor and Employment. At issue is the 2nd Annual Make Music Denver (MMD) Day on June 21, 2013, produced by Downtown Denver Events, Inc, (DDE). All musicians, including professionals, are obligated by terms and conditions of DDE’s contract to work for free.
Downtown Denver Events is one four nonprofit subsidiaries of the Downtown Denver Partnership (also Denver Civic Ventures, Inc., and Downtown Denver, Inc.). Collectively these groups represent billions of dollars in partner wealth and assets. DDP has no problem spending money on themselves. CEO Tamara (Tami) Door earns $360k/year for leading all four nonprofits and DDP’s staff collectively earn $2.4 million/year. Add another couple of million for posh downtown offices and big business lobbying efforts and it’s no surprise there’s nothing left for musicians.
Despite DDP’s ‘shoestring’ budget, the show must go on! In fact, DDE already committed to the IRS that they would “foster and promote cultural diversity, community pride and appreciation for the arts.” Make Music Denver is now Tami’s way of saying how much their downtown partners appreciate and care for musicians, much like a ‘pick me up bouquet’ but only cheaper. Just accept that musicians who perform for their festival must be either independently wealthy or they shall remain poor … even “busking for tips” is expressly prohibited under their musician contract.
Read On
Into the Belly of the Beast
May 13Our meeting with the Downtown Denver Partnership
By Pete Vriesenga
After being put off for twelve months we finally scheduled a meeting with the Downtown Denver Partnership (DDP) which represents billions of dollars in big business/member assets. DDP President & CEO Tamara Door never responded personally to my 5/1/13 email, and I expect she has more important things to do and people to meet. I did however receive a response from DDP’s Event Operations Manger Lorinn Rhodes. DMA Vice President Thomas Blomster and I were now ready to begin our quest to see that professional musicians who perform for Make Music Denver are paid … something.
With our long-awaited meeting now only moments away, we stepped into the elevator from the lobby of the magnificent Paramount Theater Building at 16th and Glenarm. Although relieved to be out of the rain, we waited in anticipation, not knowing what lies ahead. Would these prominent business leaders actually listen to our arguments and agree to pay “something” to the musicians? Or, would our hopes be quickly dashed by Wall Street tycoons looking to experience their first labor/management negotiation, motivated by the sport of conquest. Seizing on a moment of confidence, Thomas and I looked to each other reassuringly … ‘we’re on a Mission from God!’
Read On
Make Music Denver Exploits Musicians
May 1
To: Tamara Door, President & CEO, Downtown Denver Partnership
From: Pete Vriesenga, President, Denver Musicians Association
Re: Make Music Denver, 2013
Dear Ms. Door,
The Denver Musicians Association (AFM, AFL-CIO) represents 800 professional musicians in the region, from Colorado’s largest performing organizations to those who perform in restaurants, weddings and at special events. Professional musicians play a very large role in sustaining a culture of entertainment and resulting economic benefit to Downtown Denver and surrounding communities.
Last year at this time I received an email from Stephanie Davidowitz offering to meet to consider how to involve the DMA in Make Music Denver. My April 28 reply applauded DDP for encouraging community members and amateur musicians to be a part of your Festival. I also offered a simple and gracious reminder that professional musicians should be fairly compensated for their services.
Nothing ever came from that effort and it’s now confirmed that DDP is once again seeking professional musicians on the condition that they will perform for free. The only other change I note is that I have been removed from your mailing list.
We will continue to reach out to you with the hope of turning Make Music Denver into proud, community event that no longer exploits professional talents. Until such time we shall educate and warn our membership of the damage that DDP is inflicting on our industry.
Sincerely,
Pete Vriesenga, DMA President
Comments
19th Annual Summer Course in the Alexander Technique, 7/13
Apr 24The 19th Annual Summer Course in the Alexander Technique at the University of Colorado at Boulder will be held July 8-12, 9:00 to noon daily. A one day Intensive will be held July 13, 1-5:00 pm. The 2012 faculty includes Ed Bilanchone, Amy Likar, and DMA member James Brody. Early registration by DMA members will result in a 15% reduction in tuition.
Read On
When Flying, Are Cellos People Too?
Apr 24Musicians and Airlines Are Squabbling Over Frequent-Flier Miles; ‘He Could Have Played the Flute, But No’
Wall Street Journal
3/13/2013
Renowned cellist Lynn Harrell travels the world on two airline tickets-one for himself and one for his beloved companion, his $5 million, nearly 300-year-old cello. “Cello Harrell” gets its own boarding pass and even collects frequent-flier miles in its own account. Many cellos do, even for high school musicians.
But two seats don’t always equal twice the miles. Delta Air Lines’ DAL -0.79% frequent-flier rules only allow people, not musical instruments, to collect miles, and Delta has been auditing accounts to catch frequent-flier scofflaws. Violating the rules can draw a severe penalty: Delta wiped out not only Cello Harrell’s SkyMiles account, but also Lynn Harrell’s personal SkyMiles account last year. Total loss: half a million miles. And Delta banned him from its loyalty program.
Read On
Colorado Chamber Orchestra Gives Life to Markus Reuter's Todmorden 513
Apr 24PledgeMusic.com
April 20, 2013
Markus Reuter is a German composer, musician and producer who originally landed on PledgeMusic as a part of the rock trio Stick Men and their successful campaign for their new album.
Then, on Valentine’s Day of this year, Markus joined forces with the Colorado Chamber Orchestra for an exciting and groundbreaking new campaign, the world premiere of Reuter’s original composition, “Todmorden 513,” orchestrated by the Orchestra’s Music Director Thomas Blomster.
The world premiere of this incredible piece took place yesterday in Denver, and it was absolutely phenomenal. Because this PledgeMusic campaign is already past 100 percent, these guys were thankfully able to record and document this event, and you can get it now by Pledging on their campaign.
Before the world ever heard this piece live, we shot some questions to Markus and Thomas, and here’s what they had to say: Read On
Read more… / CommentSPCO Musicians Vote to Consider Contract by Mail
Apr 23Saint Paul, Minnesota (April 20, 2013) – The Musicians of the Saint Paul Chamber Orchestra (SPCO) said today they have voted to use a U.S. mail option to decide whether to ratify the Society’s latest proposal. This will enable further clarification of language in that proposal and would also provide the opportunity for all Musicians to vote.
Musicians did ratify the American Federation of Musicians Integrated Media Agreement and its Addendum today, both of which were specifically negotiated for the SPCO.
The Musicians of the SPCO have been locked out for more than 24 weeks. Their contract expired September 30, 2012. Management imposed the lockout on October 21, 2012 following three weeks where the Musicians continued to “play and talk.”
For more information, go to their web site www.musiciansspco.org
Read more… / CommentDMA Membership Meeting
Mar 24Thursday, March 28, 20132, 5:30 PM
Food & Beverages Available at 5:00 PM
Paying Taxes for Exposure … or stipends
What do Denver Arts & Venues and Augustana Arts have in common?
ANSWER: They’re both publicly-funded and offer musicians “a stipend” for professional service. Arts & Venues needs a band to play background music at a reception “for the Cultural Community” in Denver and Augustana Arts is offering a stipend to members of Musica Sacra to perform in the Buell Theater.
Anyone care to “volunteer” to perform for the opening of a new Light Rail Station on the leg to Golden? Where will this stop? Must we all Pay to Play even when public funds are involved? Many interests beyond the DMA should be joining in our fight to preserve Colorado’s prevailing wage, but their silence is now deafening … and funded.
Read more… / Comment