By Pete Vriesenga

Richard Kolacny, who joined the DMA in 1947, recently called the office to pay his annual dues. I was privileged to take his call and personally thanked him for 64 years of dedicated support for causes of professional musicians.

As president of Kolacny Music, a family-owned business since 1930, Richard Kolacny’s dedicated support to our local community shines bigger than life. I join many thousands of music professionals in thanking the Kolacny family for more than 80 years of service to our community. How many lifetime friendships and associations have been forged over this time, and how do we put a price on that?
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The 72nd AFM Western Conference of Locals held in Dallas, TX February 26-28 was a fun, informative, and action packed 3 days. This was the first time I have ever attended a Western Conference, or any conference of the AFM, and what a wonderful way to meet a lot of our colleagues from across the western USA and Canada.

It was not until 1992 at Red Rocks Amphitheater in Colorado when the Moody Blues performed with live orchestra for the very first time. The Colorado Symphony Orchestra, conducted by DMA’s own Larry Baird performed the highly-celebrated 25th anniversary of the album release. Larry recreated orchestrations for Tuesday Afternoon, Late Lament and Nights in White Satin. All of the other orchestrations on the album (as well as thirty-plus original orchestrations since then) are all Larry’s creations.

The problem that I have with this insurance program is that a reimbursement for a stolen or damaged instrument or equipment will only be made AFTER said item is replaced. A cash payout of damages is very clearly not possible according to this policy.

It’s hard to imagine life without a weekend, but it was little more than a concept through much of the industrial revolution when men, women and children were working 10 & 16-hr days and seven-day weeks. There was a strong work ethic at the time as many of these workers came from farms, but as farmers they could still regulate their work day to maintain a healthy and sustainable regimen. Suddenly these same workers were thrust into a workplace regulated only by profit, where steam whistles signaled the start and stop of the day.

We recognize and respect the diverse political viewpoints of our membership, and at the same time accept that entertainment unions have a specific mission and focus. With the example of the 2008 presidential campaign, Barack Obama has been endorsed by the AFL-CIO because of his stated commitment to Labor, including the Employee Free Choice Act.

Right-to-Work states have higher populations (21% more) who live day to day without health coverage, as compared to free bargaining states. Poverty rates are 12.5% higher in right-to-work states and infant mortality rates are 16% higher. Maximum weekly worker compensation benefits are $30 higher in free bargaining states ($609 versus $579 in right-to-work states). Additionally, workplace deaths are 51% higher in right-to-work states because its very difficult to find anyone with the courage to SPEAK UP when Unions have long gone by the wayside.

A perspective that all Citizens should be able to understand is the thought that the street in front of our homes should be paid for by everyone who lives on that street. The maintenance for that street should be paid for by everyone who lives on that street. Each and every Citizen who lives on that street enjoys the benefits of that street. Now, your neighbor stops paying ‘fair share taxes,’ leaving you and other neighbors to pick up the slack and pay more in order to enjoy the benefits of that street.

Outside interests who have absolutely nothing to lose, want to change the laws of Colorado so that Workers will lose everything. It is important to realize that those who would destroy Unions in America will not rest. They will continue their vicious attacks on the rights of American Workers. They have brought their vile poison to Colorado. It is now crunch time, and we need you to not only realize the gravity of the situation, but to verbalize it to your fellow Workers.

The business community has joined with labor to oppose three proposals targeting unions: Right to Work (Amendment 47), Paycheck Protection (Amendment 49) and Sole Sourcing (Amendment 54). They have pledged to raise $3 million for the campaigns against those measures. That funding will be collected by a pro-business issues committee, which will approve the way it is spent.

Religious Organizations are the nation’s second-largest employer of professional musicians – second only to Performing Arts Companies . I thank our local community of churches for the enormity of great music they produce, and also take this opportunity to highlight one very fine example: Montview Boulevard Presbyterian Church in Denver, and music director John Kuzma.

Music & entertainment are among the largest industries in the world. The Vail Valley Music Festival, for example, is so flush with cash they’re importing FOUR very-pricey orchestras this summer: the Columbus Jazz Orchestra, Rochester Philharmonic Orchestra, Philadelphia Orchestra and the New York Philharmonic, to satisy the musical palate of this affluent community.

Our association has done a good job over the years to raise our scales to a respectful level that is on parity with comparable cities and markets. This is a benefit for all of us, but only if the membership recognizes the hard work and determination that got us to this point. Now that we have achieved these scales, our membership is expected to value and respect them.

Amendment 47 is being characterized by supporters as a law which would prohibit workers from being “forced” to join a union and pay dues as a condition of employment. The media, too, has latched on to this inaccurate definition and the result is that there has been no clear explanation of the difference between Amendment 47 and current law.

Billy Strayhorn’s classic ‘Take the A Train’ takes us back to Harlem, NY during the ’40’s at the peak of a cultural and musical renaissance. To this day Harlem’s colorful history recalls the sophisticated lifestyle of the black elite who created a social, entertainment economy that was home for musical icons such as Duke Ellington, Dizzy Gillespie, Charlie Parker and Billie Holiday.

The keynote address came from US Senator Daniel Inouye, who spoke mainly about the inadequate services that our returning military personnel are receiving. Senator Inouye’s heroic actions in World War II resulted in serious injury, including the loss of his right arm, for which he received 22 months of intensive rehabilitation. Learning to play the piano with his remaining hand was one of the greatest factors in rebuilding his confidence and determination.

Bron Wright is formerly with the Charleston Symphony (SC), and is currently playing Principal Trombone in the Colorado Springs Philharmonic and Fort Collins Symphony. Bron is one of a growing number of accomplished musicians who refuse to sit back and watch as music education opportunities are lost. ‘Give Them Music’ is Bron’s latest effort to fill this void with a new approach to offering musical resources.