Monday, August 17, 2009
More from Adaptistration on the ISO
More from Drew McManus on the ISO! As usual, it's good stuff, and you can read it here.
Friday, August 14, 2009
More blogging about Venzago and the ISO
Drew McManus of Adaptistration, a most excellent blog, has chimed in on the situation in Indianapolis.
He breaks down CEO, Music Director, and musician salaries in his entry, and you'll be able to see pretty clearly that Venzago was not a highly paid Music Director, in comparison to orchestras with similar budgets. It's a very good read, and I high suggest you check it out, here.
He breaks down CEO, Music Director, and musician salaries in his entry, and you'll be able to see pretty clearly that Venzago was not a highly paid Music Director, in comparison to orchestras with similar budgets. It's a very good read, and I high suggest you check it out, here.
Thursday, August 6, 2009
It's time to let the ISO board of directors know how we feel
The gist of all the blog posts I've featured, and many of their comments, is that Simon Crookall made a poor, unwise, and foolish decision in deciding not to renew Mario Venzago's contract six weeks before the season begins.
Then, on Monday, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra held their usual monthly First Monday Music Club, where fans and patrons of the ISO meet up once a month to discuss all things ISO, and often hear from a special guest. There were two orchestra members scheduled as guests, but the first ten or 15 minutes were to be filled by Simon Crookall. He talked briefly and took questions, and that ended up going for approximately an hour! From all the reports I have heard, it was a tense, and nearly uncomfortable evening for Crookall. He heard some difficult questions and faced some very unhappy people. One guest (whose hand I'd love to shake) asked Crookall, "So, will you be taking a 50% pay cut next season?" All in all though, Simon was not well received, and had very few supporters there.
Also, it is more than reasonable to say that the orchestra is not pleased with Crookall either. They liked Venzago a great deal, and under his leadership, they were sounding the best they ever had.
What's the point in telling you all of this?
It's to show you the overwhelming response to Crookall's idiocy. YET, Crookall himself chooses to be blind to this. As an article in the Indianapolis Star article stated on Tuesday,
"Crookall said ISO patrons and the public have been supportive of the recent change."
It's clear that Crookall really has either lost it, or he doesn't care about reaction to his decision, and is just plowing ahead with his foolishness.
It's time to take action. It's time to write in to the board, letting them know how we, the public, ISO patrons and fans, really do feel about this. It's time to let them know that we have no confidence in Simon Crookall as CEO.
Normally, letters addressed to the board of directors would be sent to the orchestra's address. However, in these circumstances, there is a good chance those letters would not be received. Instead, they should be sent to the chairman of the board of directors, Robert S. Kaspar. (I found his work address by doing a simple Google search). Send your letters to:
Robert S. Kaspar
The Windsor Group
500 East 96th street, Suite 450
Indianapolis, IN 46240
After you have done that, please consider writing directly to the architect of this mess, Simon Crookall. His ISO email address is:
SCrookall@IndianapolisSymphony.org
Crookall claims that ISO patrons and the public support him, and nothing could be further from the truth. The board needs to fully understand this. Write in today!
Then, on Monday, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra held their usual monthly First Monday Music Club, where fans and patrons of the ISO meet up once a month to discuss all things ISO, and often hear from a special guest. There were two orchestra members scheduled as guests, but the first ten or 15 minutes were to be filled by Simon Crookall. He talked briefly and took questions, and that ended up going for approximately an hour! From all the reports I have heard, it was a tense, and nearly uncomfortable evening for Crookall. He heard some difficult questions and faced some very unhappy people. One guest (whose hand I'd love to shake) asked Crookall, "So, will you be taking a 50% pay cut next season?" All in all though, Simon was not well received, and had very few supporters there.
Also, it is more than reasonable to say that the orchestra is not pleased with Crookall either. They liked Venzago a great deal, and under his leadership, they were sounding the best they ever had.
What's the point in telling you all of this?
It's to show you the overwhelming response to Crookall's idiocy. YET, Crookall himself chooses to be blind to this. As an article in the Indianapolis Star article stated on Tuesday,
"Crookall said ISO patrons and the public have been supportive of the recent change."
It's clear that Crookall really has either lost it, or he doesn't care about reaction to his decision, and is just plowing ahead with his foolishness.
It's time to take action. It's time to write in to the board, letting them know how we, the public, ISO patrons and fans, really do feel about this. It's time to let them know that we have no confidence in Simon Crookall as CEO.
Normally, letters addressed to the board of directors would be sent to the orchestra's address. However, in these circumstances, there is a good chance those letters would not be received. Instead, they should be sent to the chairman of the board of directors, Robert S. Kaspar. (I found his work address by doing a simple Google search). Send your letters to:
Robert S. Kaspar
The Windsor Group
500 East 96th street, Suite 450
Indianapolis, IN 46240
After you have done that, please consider writing directly to the architect of this mess, Simon Crookall. His ISO email address is:
SCrookall@IndianapolisSymphony.org
Crookall claims that ISO patrons and the public support him, and nothing could be further from the truth. The board needs to fully understand this. Write in today!
The blogs just keep on comin'....
Yet ANOTHER excellent blog post, although not specifically just about the ISO this time, but certainly about issues surrounding the debacle going on there.
Charles Noble, assistant principal violist of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, maintains a terrific blog, daily observations. (yes, another blogging violist!) In a recent post, he talks about the roles of artistic administrator, and music directors. It's a great read, and you can find it here.
Charles Noble, assistant principal violist of the Oregon Symphony Orchestra, maintains a terrific blog, daily observations. (yes, another blogging violist!) In a recent post, he talks about the roles of artistic administrator, and music directors. It's a great read, and you can find it here.
Yet another blog about the ISO...
Robert Levine, principal violist of the Milwaukee Symphony Orchestra comments on the situation at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra in his blog, entitled Abu Bratsche:
"Few decisions, and announcements thereof, are more important in our business than the coming of a new music director and the departure of the current one. Something that important really should be handled better than this."
Well put! Read the entire post here.
"Few decisions, and announcements thereof, are more important in our business than the coming of a new music director and the departure of the current one. Something that important really should be handled better than this."
Well put! Read the entire post here.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
Another excellent blog about the mess at the ISO
Indianapolis Star critic/blogger Jay Harvey posted a damn good blog regarding the awful situation that Simon Crookall has put the ISO in. He sheds much light on things, particularly with a quote from former music director, Raymond Leppard:
"Comparing his place as music director (1987-2001) in the organization to Venzago’s, Leppard told me: “I reported to the board, and so did the general manager. And that was the better structure.”
Read the entire post here.
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Crookall and his foolishness
Amid the blog posts, newspaper articles, reports, etc etc, I have been trying to set my brain wrapped around the whole situation regarding the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. CEO Simon Crookall decided not to renewal Music Director Mario Venzago's contract, a mere six weeks before the season starts, and quite simply, this nearly leaves me dumbfounded. Let's look at certain parts of this situation a little more closely.
Crookall informed Venzago of this by email, last Thursday. Can you imagine getting an email, with those contents in it? This is an awful way to let someone go. As Ken Turchi said in his blog, Mario was let go unceremoniously, and without dignity. This was essentially a slap in the face to a man who was worked hard in Indianapolis, and done some amazing things for the orchestra. This also demonstrates, in my opinion, that Simon Crookall is a man without a sense of common decency. Only someone without a sense of common decency lets someone go this way, without dignity, and without a proper farewell.
This has happened, as I stated, only weeks before the season starts in Indianapolis. Brochures have been printed. People have subscribed under the impression that Venzago is leading the orchestra. Also, Venzago has also set aside all those dates to conduct in Indianapolis, and has had to turn down other invitations, most likely. Who makes such a decision with these things (and more, of course) to think about?
The orchestra currently looks bad. They have a CEO and board of directors making poor decisions at the worst of times, and many people are wondering what really is going on at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The organization is currently flailing about, with the CEO saying that he decided not to renew Venzago's contract for various reasons, but it's come out that the only contract he offered him in the end was a 50% pay cut for the coming year, and then no salary for the season after that. Explain to me WHO would want to donate to the orchestra right now, when it looks like such a mess? Does Crookall think his decision not to renew Venzago's contract would pull in more donors? Who wants to put their money in to an organization that looks so unstable right now?
Crookall has also epically failed at making the most of a conductor leaving. First, a conductor should leave under good terms--not by email, six weeks before the season starts. Even if this had been Venzago's last year, imagine the big deal the administration could have made out of it! Imagine the farewell hoopla they could have created! I can just see Hilbert Circle Theater packed to the BRIM for this season, to say goodbye to Venzago. They could have run a campaign of sorts, to raise funds for the orchestra in the spring, asking the public to help keep the orchestra's vision alive while they search for a new music director. Essentially, if Crookall had let Venzago leave in an honorable way, with dignity, he could have completely profited off of it! Instead, he makes a decision that makes people question him, and the ISO as an organization. Again, who wants to donate to an orchestra that looks like it has no idea what it's doing, that looks like it has no vision?
Another side effect of this whole debacle directly affects the musicians. Without a music director, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra must go without some important chairs filled. (their contract states that vacancies cannot be filled unless there is a music director). This means the following chairs will remain vacant: principal oboe, principal trumpet, principal cello, associate principal viola, second bassoon, bass trombone, and one section first violin. These are important chairs to fill, and some have already waited a while to be filled, and will now have to wait further to fill. Orchestras want vital positions like these to be filled because members of sections want to look up to the principals for leadership, to help build their solidarity as a section. Not to mention having vital positions left vacant can, and does bring down morale in the orchestra. Ask any orchestra musician, and they will tell you this.
In addition to that, the orchestra will not have a conductor to work with them on a regular basis. Pretty much week in and week out, there will be guest conductors. None of them really know the major issues the orchestra has, or what issues they've been working on for quite a while, or what are new challenges. That's the wonderful thing about having a music director in place---to consistently work with an orchestra, to know their weaknesses and strengths, to know where the pitfalls are, and to know how to communicate well with them because you're with them regularly! This is the relationship Venzago had with his orchestra: HE UNDERSTOOD THEM. He knew the issues, strengths, concerns, etc. That's why you can hear from the time he got to Indianapolis, to as of late, and the complete difference in sound there is. He learned what the weaknesses were, and little by little, chipped away at them. He worked with them to create a more solid, and confident sound. I've said it before in this blog, and even in my newsweekly reviews, and I'll say it again: the orchestra was improving in leaps and bounds under Venzago, and were well on their way up. Now, the orchestra has had the rug taken out from under then. You can nearly guarantee that the quality of sound will go down with a different conductor each week, and without the same person to work with them on a consistent basis.
In an earlier blog entry, I stated that Crookall made his decision without having the best interests of the orchestra at heart. An anonymous commenter asked me how I truly could know that, and the answer to that question--or rather, answers to that question, are above. Crookall's foolish decision has so many awful consequences, that there is no way it could have been made with the orchestras best interests at heart.
The ISO deserves better. They deserve not to have the rug pulled out from under them. They deserve to have their music director leave in an honorable way. They deserve to have their best interests taken to heart.
They deserve a new CEO.
Crookall informed Venzago of this by email, last Thursday. Can you imagine getting an email, with those contents in it? This is an awful way to let someone go. As Ken Turchi said in his blog, Mario was let go unceremoniously, and without dignity. This was essentially a slap in the face to a man who was worked hard in Indianapolis, and done some amazing things for the orchestra. This also demonstrates, in my opinion, that Simon Crookall is a man without a sense of common decency. Only someone without a sense of common decency lets someone go this way, without dignity, and without a proper farewell.
This has happened, as I stated, only weeks before the season starts in Indianapolis. Brochures have been printed. People have subscribed under the impression that Venzago is leading the orchestra. Also, Venzago has also set aside all those dates to conduct in Indianapolis, and has had to turn down other invitations, most likely. Who makes such a decision with these things (and more, of course) to think about?
The orchestra currently looks bad. They have a CEO and board of directors making poor decisions at the worst of times, and many people are wondering what really is going on at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. The organization is currently flailing about, with the CEO saying that he decided not to renew Venzago's contract for various reasons, but it's come out that the only contract he offered him in the end was a 50% pay cut for the coming year, and then no salary for the season after that. Explain to me WHO would want to donate to the orchestra right now, when it looks like such a mess? Does Crookall think his decision not to renew Venzago's contract would pull in more donors? Who wants to put their money in to an organization that looks so unstable right now?
Crookall has also epically failed at making the most of a conductor leaving. First, a conductor should leave under good terms--not by email, six weeks before the season starts. Even if this had been Venzago's last year, imagine the big deal the administration could have made out of it! Imagine the farewell hoopla they could have created! I can just see Hilbert Circle Theater packed to the BRIM for this season, to say goodbye to Venzago. They could have run a campaign of sorts, to raise funds for the orchestra in the spring, asking the public to help keep the orchestra's vision alive while they search for a new music director. Essentially, if Crookall had let Venzago leave in an honorable way, with dignity, he could have completely profited off of it! Instead, he makes a decision that makes people question him, and the ISO as an organization. Again, who wants to donate to an orchestra that looks like it has no idea what it's doing, that looks like it has no vision?
Another side effect of this whole debacle directly affects the musicians. Without a music director, the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra must go without some important chairs filled. (their contract states that vacancies cannot be filled unless there is a music director). This means the following chairs will remain vacant: principal oboe, principal trumpet, principal cello, associate principal viola, second bassoon, bass trombone, and one section first violin. These are important chairs to fill, and some have already waited a while to be filled, and will now have to wait further to fill. Orchestras want vital positions like these to be filled because members of sections want to look up to the principals for leadership, to help build their solidarity as a section. Not to mention having vital positions left vacant can, and does bring down morale in the orchestra. Ask any orchestra musician, and they will tell you this.
In addition to that, the orchestra will not have a conductor to work with them on a regular basis. Pretty much week in and week out, there will be guest conductors. None of them really know the major issues the orchestra has, or what issues they've been working on for quite a while, or what are new challenges. That's the wonderful thing about having a music director in place---to consistently work with an orchestra, to know their weaknesses and strengths, to know where the pitfalls are, and to know how to communicate well with them because you're with them regularly! This is the relationship Venzago had with his orchestra: HE UNDERSTOOD THEM. He knew the issues, strengths, concerns, etc. That's why you can hear from the time he got to Indianapolis, to as of late, and the complete difference in sound there is. He learned what the weaknesses were, and little by little, chipped away at them. He worked with them to create a more solid, and confident sound. I've said it before in this blog, and even in my newsweekly reviews, and I'll say it again: the orchestra was improving in leaps and bounds under Venzago, and were well on their way up. Now, the orchestra has had the rug taken out from under then. You can nearly guarantee that the quality of sound will go down with a different conductor each week, and without the same person to work with them on a consistent basis.
In an earlier blog entry, I stated that Crookall made his decision without having the best interests of the orchestra at heart. An anonymous commenter asked me how I truly could know that, and the answer to that question--or rather, answers to that question, are above. Crookall's foolish decision has so many awful consequences, that there is no way it could have been made with the orchestras best interests at heart.
The ISO deserves better. They deserve not to have the rug pulled out from under them. They deserve to have their music director leave in an honorable way. They deserve to have their best interests taken to heart.
They deserve a new CEO.
Monday, August 3, 2009
Crookall to appear at ISO First Monday Music Club tonight
Simon Crookall will be at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra's First Monday Music Club this evening, starting at 7pm. He'll be speaking for a few minutes at the beginning, and will then take questions.
The FMMC meetings are held in the Wood Room of the Hilbert Circle Theater. Entrance is through the doors on Schafer Court (the alley) that is behind the parking garage on Pennsylvania Street.
I should add however, that this is not the main thrust of the evening. The FMMC is a gathering of ISO fans once a month, and there often is a guest speaker from the ISO. Tonight the main part of the evening will feature ISO violist Terry E. Langdon, and Associate Principal Second Violinist Mary Anne Dell'Aquila. With that in mind, this is not a rally cry of sorts for those who are upset with Crookall's decision. Please be mindful of that!
The FMMC meetings are held in the Wood Room of the Hilbert Circle Theater. Entrance is through the doors on Schafer Court (the alley) that is behind the parking garage on Pennsylvania Street.
I should add however, that this is not the main thrust of the evening. The FMMC is a gathering of ISO fans once a month, and there often is a guest speaker from the ISO. Tonight the main part of the evening will feature ISO violist Terry E. Langdon, and Associate Principal Second Violinist Mary Anne Dell'Aquila. With that in mind, this is not a rally cry of sorts for those who are upset with Crookall's decision. Please be mindful of that!
Excellent blog post on the Venzago/ISO mess
Thanks to a friend, I found a blog entry that speaks unbelievably clearly about this whole mess at the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra.
Ken Turchi writes about Venzago, saying:
"The way he was fired – by e-mail, unceremoniously and without dignity – does not befit a fine orchestra made up of civic leaders. The board of directors should and does know better."
Check the entire post, here.
Ken Turchi writes about Venzago, saying:
"The way he was fired – by e-mail, unceremoniously and without dignity – does not befit a fine orchestra made up of civic leaders. The board of directors should and does know better."
Check the entire post, here.
Mario Venzago says: "Stop blaming, hurting, and damaging one another"
In a statement made today, Mario Venzago said:
"I would like to request that everyone who is making comments about the termination of my Music Director post in Indianapolis stop blaming, hurting and damaging one another. When I have all the information to evaluate the current change in my situation I will make a personal statement. For the moment I want to confirm my love and respect for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Staff and the City of Indianapolis.”
One cannot deny that Mario Venzago is a true gentleman, and a man of class.
"I would like to request that everyone who is making comments about the termination of my Music Director post in Indianapolis stop blaming, hurting and damaging one another. When I have all the information to evaluate the current change in my situation I will make a personal statement. For the moment I want to confirm my love and respect for the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra and Staff and the City of Indianapolis.”
One cannot deny that Mario Venzago is a true gentleman, and a man of class.
Saturday, August 1, 2009
Crookall offers Venzago 50% pay cut, refuses to negotiate further
Simon Crookall, CEO of the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, should be ashamed of himself. In his email to the orchestra, he stated that he decided not to renew Music Director Mario Venzago's contract for "various reasons". Thanks to the Indianapolis Star this morning, more light has been shed on this awful situation.
Crookall---whose name seems quite apt for this disgusting predicament---offered Venzago a 50% paycut for the 09-10 season, and then no salary (just conducting fees) for 10-11. He would not negotiate beyond those disgusting terms. This is simply beyond unacceptable. I mean, what else can be said about that? It would be understandable if he were offered a contract with some sort of paycut, as we are in a recession. But 50%? That simply boggles my mind. So much for "various reasons".
I find it humorous, in a sad way, that of course Crookall has not taken a pay cut this year. He did oversee the laying off of 8 staff members at the symphony this year (one of them including Cassie Goldstein, Venzago's executive assistant), but he himself did not take a paycut, even though administrators of orchestras around the country have done that. (Cincinnati is a prime example--everyone in admin, plus the music director and musicians, took a pay cut).
Again, as I said at the top of this post, Crookall should be ashamed of himself. Ashamed that he did not take a pay cut when others were in the field were doing so, and when he was overseeing the laying off of staff members. He then has the audacity to offer the Music Director, who is well loved by critics, audiences, and musicians alike, a 50% pay cut, and then no salary for the year after that? Ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous.
If anyone should be leaving the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, it should be Simon Crookall.
More to come, later.
Crookall---whose name seems quite apt for this disgusting predicament---offered Venzago a 50% paycut for the 09-10 season, and then no salary (just conducting fees) for 10-11. He would not negotiate beyond those disgusting terms. This is simply beyond unacceptable. I mean, what else can be said about that? It would be understandable if he were offered a contract with some sort of paycut, as we are in a recession. But 50%? That simply boggles my mind. So much for "various reasons".
I find it humorous, in a sad way, that of course Crookall has not taken a pay cut this year. He did oversee the laying off of 8 staff members at the symphony this year (one of them including Cassie Goldstein, Venzago's executive assistant), but he himself did not take a paycut, even though administrators of orchestras around the country have done that. (Cincinnati is a prime example--everyone in admin, plus the music director and musicians, took a pay cut).
Again, as I said at the top of this post, Crookall should be ashamed of himself. Ashamed that he did not take a pay cut when others were in the field were doing so, and when he was overseeing the laying off of staff members. He then has the audacity to offer the Music Director, who is well loved by critics, audiences, and musicians alike, a 50% pay cut, and then no salary for the year after that? Ludicrous, absolutely ludicrous.
If anyone should be leaving the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra, it should be Simon Crookall.
More to come, later.
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