Drew McManus is following the ongoing San Antonio Symphony negotiations in his usual excellent fashion. San Antonio Symphony President and CEO has made several unfortunate recent public statements regarding these negotiations, include references to the musicians and their union as two separate entities and outlining complicated budgetary solutions. Drew writes:

Green’s email message is filled with similar material such as proposing this classic ethical dilemma “Consider reducing core orchestra to provide more money for musicians now and increase management’s ability to add more weeks for the future” (cue sad music, cut to scene of desperate mother trying to decide which child to save from the burning car, then fade to black with the faint sound of an explosion).

Ideally, someone will be capable of stepping in and saving this administration from itself. Alternatively, if they continue in this direction unchecked, there is a sincere risk that all of the hard work put into bringing the organization out of bankruptcy will be lost.

Read Drew’s complete post here.

Drew’s reporting on orchestra management issues is always illuminating, and this post offers a glimpse into the messy world of management/musician relations. This orchestra has only recently emerged from bankruptcy, and it will be interesting to see how this negotiation resolves.

To watch a video interview with Drew, check out this great series from Polyphonic.org. This series features segments from an interview with Jim Undercofler, now President and CEO of the Philadelphia Orchestra. They discuss blogging, trends in American orchestras, management issues as taught in music schools, and much more. Fascinating stuff.

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