A Face Behind the Farce – Julia Rose
An email interview with CSO hornist Julia Rose.
For many years, one of my favorite horn-related web sites has been Julia Rose’s Horn Page. Of particular interest are her collections of Master Class notes and orchestra audition repertoire lists. Since 1999, her web site has been a valuable resource to horn players throughout the world.
Ms. Rose, like most Columbus Symphony Orchestra musicians, does not take the CSO board and management at its word – for good reasons really. In a recent email interview, she offered some personal insights into their current situation.
Insult to injury
Since 1997 she has been the Associate Principal Horn/3rd Horn in the Columbus Symphony Orchestra. Unless you have been living under a rock, you have probably heard that this orchestra is in serious trouble. The situation is complicated; in a nutshell CSO management has not approached the bargaining table in good faith.
“For me personally, the biggest problem is not the contract offer itself,” says Ms. Rose, “but the fact that it is a gigantic insult to all of us and our collective experience.”
“What they have offered us is a salary and season length more appropriate for an entry-level musician just out of school, who has no professional experience whatsoever.” She is referring recent take-it-or-leave-it offers that amount to a 40% pay cut. While Ms. Rose has been a member of the CSO for ten years, she noted that many of the orchestra’s musicians have closer to 20 years experience.
Discussions on the Internet have been heated, to say the least. The outrage and disgust has been fairly unanimous. Blogging sites such as Adaptistration, Abu Brastche and The Buzzing Reed have provided unique opinions, insights and even detailed analysis.
Robert Levine and Drew McManus have gone so far as to use terms such as “murder” and “symphonicide” when referring to what is being widely perceived as premeditated actions to eliminate the orchestra.
Ms. Rose echoes these sentiments adding that “it feels like a close family member is being tortured and I am being forced to watch it die. This orchestra is a beautiful, wonderful thing – the world is a better place because it’s here – and it is being purposely starved and neglected. It just breaks my heart to see it go.”
Swan song
In spite of this heartbreak, the musicians managed to channel their emotions into their final performances with renowned soloist Yo-Yo Ma. At The Buzzing Reed, CSO clarinetist David H. Thomas writes that he felt as if the orchestra was “just beginning to tap into our potential for controlled passion and power, the energy tapped by the greatest orchestras, from Cleveland to Berlin.”
Ms. Rose poignantly adds that the CSO performed “like the music is life or death, and it is a profoundly sad and moving experience.” She also remarked that ironically, very passionate music was being made as a result of recent events.
In a gallant display of support to the orchestra and its musicians, soloist Yo-Yo Ma joined in the final work of the program. He took a seat in the back of the cello section and joined in the performance of Ravel’s Bolero.
Moving on…and away
I asked Ms. Rose the difficult question of “now what?” Now that these musicians may be working for less pay or even out of work completely, many will be looking for other employment.
“Financially, I will survive, as I am part of a dual-income household, but I can’t imagine what the single folks in the CSO or the single income families here must be going through.” With her years of experience in the CSO and her relatively young age (36), she is still a viable candidate for a position elsewhere. She has already received phone calls from musician colleagues encouraging her to audition for their orchestras.
She anticipates a summer of “sharpening her saw” as she puts it, honing her audition skills and getting ready to win any one of the auditions that may be coming up in the following year or two.
“I took a couple of years off from auditioning after my son was born, but since this started happening I started taking auditions again, and I’ve already made runner-up in a major orchestral audition. So that’s a good start; I am optimistic, but my husband and I will give things a few years. I am fortunate to have a husband who is 100% supportive of my career and my musical endeavors.”
If her short-term plan does not work out, Ms. Rose and her family are considering a fresh start in Alaska. Or she might pursue a Masters Degree in order to teach at the college level. Given her extensive experience, she would be a prime candidate for such a position.
If she does pursue a second career in teaching it will most likely not be in Columbus. “I really don’t want to live in a city that does not support home-grown orchestral music,” she says.
Rome burns while the Emperor fiddles
This sentiment is without a doubt is being echoed by many of Ms. Rose’s colleagues. Regardless of how the CSO’s problems get resolved, Columbus stands to lose talented musicians leaving for greener pastures. According to a web site authored by “randyf926,” a handful of musicians are already planning to leave. David Thomas at his Buzzing Reed blog speaks openly of audition preparations.
We can only hope that Buzz Trafford’s recent invitation to re-open negotiation talks is genuine. I hope that no one is holding their breath; while I truly wish nothing but the best for the CSO musicians, the Buzzster’s track record for honesty has been less than stellar so far.
References:
Randyf926 Site
An up-to-date, comprehensive list of all things CSO online
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