The Detroit Symphony Orchestra

Going through college and early adult life as a professional musician had its learning experiences.  The Detroit Symphony Orchestra (DSO) was the closest big time orchestra and it was really something.  The Rust Belt of Pittsburgh, Cleveland, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago and St. Louis had magnificent orchestras that survive(d) due to corporate and personal realizations that a dynamic symphony orchestra was a source of civic pride and a selling point for living in the city.

I studied the playing of Tamborini, the principal trumpet and father of a good friend, and then Kaderabeck who came over from second chair in the Chicago Symphony - eventually on his way to the Philadelphia Orchestra - and went to every concert I could afford to travel to and some that I couldn't - standing outside Ford Auditorium during intermission begging for tickets from people leaving at the half.

Now the DSO is on strike having offered a 22% wage cut and being countered with a 33% wage cut by management.  It probably will take the 33% to make it work but it seems like such a needless shame to destroy an orchestra over what amounts to be something not of their doing - neither management nor the Local Musicians Union want this. No one wants this.

During my graduate school and performing years I hooked up with a renaissance performance group (no not a renaissance faire type..but one of those musicologist/historian performance groups) and we would get gigs in private homes for big deal parties as we both catered and performed...dinner an music...

Every once in a while, a hostess, well meaning of course, would approach me just prior to that great moment in time when we were to get paid.  The conversation would start "isn't it wonderful that you young people enjoy your avocation so much"...which translates into "you kids aren't really expecting money are you?" and the battle would begin....

A symphony orchestra musician has probably been locked in a practice room 6 hours a day since he/she was 8, spent 150,000 going to conservatory or topflight music school and $60-100 a week forever on lessons not to mention a violin that set mom and dad back  20-100 grand...and now a city on the brink of collapse has its primary artistic institution out of work for 33% instead of 22% and no patron will step up.

mmmm