🚀 go-pugleaf

The Cleveland Orchestra is facing a crisis.  Not only is a strike possible by December 8, but in
general because of the way the orchestra is being managed they are beginning to lose some of the
fine leaders or principals from the various sections of the orchestra and auditions are failing to
attract players of the highest quality because salary is not competitive.  We attended a meeting on
December 1 of the newly formed Friends of the Cleveland Orchestra and heard various orchestra
members and concerned music lovers speak about the problems.  It seems that the management
has gotten into a pattern of stonewalling requests from both individuals and the union until the
last minute, and then for some of the individual players it has been too late and they have left for
other cities even when the Musical Arts Association finally gave them what they asked for.  The
result which looks as if it is coming is that soon this world class orchestra, which has done so
much to bring our city back to economic activity and growth, will be reduced to the quality of
orchestras in the smaller cities of the U.S., as the better players and the conductor leave.

What can be done?  Hopefully someone can think of some effective things to do.  The orchestra
needs support, for one thing.  The next meeting of the Friends of the Cleveland Orchestra is
scheduled for 7:30 p.m. in St. Alban's Church in Cleveland Hts. on Sunday December 8.  Anyone
who cares about the orchestra is welcome to attend.  The Friends are addressing letters to the
executive committee of Musical Arts Association and urging anyone who has influence with
these persons or with persons on the MAA Board of Trustees.  Perhaps an organization with
which you are influential can bring its views before the MAA, including persons in public office.

Here are some addresses of members of the MAA executive committee:

Richard J. Bogomolny
520 Battles Rd.
Gates Mills OH 44040

John D. Ong
230 Aurora St.
Hudson OH 44236-2941

Ward Smith
36080 Shaker Blvd.
Hunting Valley OH 44022

Write today because in the holiday mail season it takes a long time for the  mail to arrive.

Lucia and Jay Weinroth