Ed Flack sent this to us and says, Comment from a teacher who is really making a difference in kids lives I have been an ASO Chorus member since 1992. I started singing with this group when I was still in college, and I got to sing with Robert Shaw for many years. In recent years Ive had the honor and joy of singing with Robert Spano and Donald Runnicles in Atlanta, Berlin, and NYC at Carnegie Hall. Im a public school teacher, K-5, in the Atlanta Public Schools, When my current school was built I told the principal in the interview that I intended to take every student to hear the ASO every year, and I have done that (400-670 kids every year for 6 years, so far). A full quarter of my yearly instruction for all grade levels is based on studying the instruments, listening to the ASOs chosen repertoire for that year, learning about conducting, and how to be audience members. I developed relationships with the Education Department to get Musicians to visit my school to play and meet with the kids and they (the Ed folks) allowed me a chance to give feedback on how to make the concerts better and more useful for our academic teachers in our American era of over-testing and curriculum connections. Our Musicians have been stellar--giving, inviting, and supportive of our children as musicians, mentors, and coaches. They have never hesitated to bring music to the children who are the future musicians and audience members in Atlanta. I, too, am devastated that our people, my friends and inspriation in the ASO are going through yet another lockout because of poor management, hidden agendas, and unmitigated idiocy. Our Musicians are blameless, yet they are being punished. Im perplexed and furious. My work in preparing kids to be performers, listeners, supporters, and innovators is everything to me. My students LOVE the ASO. They love learning about important music and getting to know the humans who bring the music to us in our hometown. My participation with the ASOC feeds all that I do as a teacher and a singer and more. I have taught children of ASO members, and I will do everything I can to help the Musicians in their fight for a fair contract and resolution to this debacle. Meanwhile, our WAC management cant even bother to meet amongst themselves, much less try to find solutions to sustain musical excellence that has been growing and developing for nearly 70 years. I am beside myself
Posted on: Sat, 20 Sep 2014 04:16:43 +0000
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