AGMAzineSUMMER 2019 VOL. 73. 1 ©Paul Kolnik ©Paul Raymond Menard John Coleman Elizabeth Sciblo Teresa Reichlen President 1st Vice President 2nd Vice President 3rd Vice President Jane Shaulis Samuel Schultz Louis Perry J Austin Bitner 4th President 5th Vice President Recording Secretary Treasurer 2019-2023 Elected AGMA Officers Official Publication of the American Guild of Musical Artists A Branch of the Associated Actors and Artistes of America Affiliated with the AFL-CIO 151964 2019 Summer issue.indd 1 7/8/19 1:19 PM By Tim Smith Treasurer J Austin Bitner talks about MMRC Chair, AGMA’s participation in Arts Advocacy AGMA Governor, Day, as well as telling us how we can all Chorister help. The Area News section is very well represented with news updates and SUMMER, 2019 many photographs from the various The American Guild of Musical Artists areas. 1430 Broadway, 14th Floor New York, New York 10018-3308 The National Office is always willing (212) 265-3687; Fax: (212) 262-9088 AT LONG LAST—AND I know you’ve to help any AGMA member and direct www.MusicalArtists.org been waiting by your mailboxes—the them to the proper place for help, but Lawrence Tibbett, Founding President latest issue of AGMAzine is here! We if you ever feel uncomfortable contact- Jascha Heifetz, Founding Vice President took a different path with this issue by ing staff, please know that your elected Raymond Menard, President not having a theme and asking people leaders are also there for you. Never be John Coleman, 1st Vice President to write about things that were timely afraid to reach out and ask a question or Elizabeth Sciblo, 2nd Vice President Teresa Reichlen, 3rd Vice President or they found interesting. Due to the raise a concern. Jane Shaulis, 4th Vice President election, we held the issue until after In addition to this issue of AGMAzine, Samuel Schultz, 5th Vice President the results were in. we invite you to check out AGMA on the J Austin Bitner, Treasurer Louis Perry, Recording Secretary We start this issue with some thoughts web (www.musicalartists.org), AGMA Leonard Egert, National Executive Director about the recent AGMA election and an on Facebook and AGMA on Twitter Don Cavanaugh, Director of Finance and Administration introduction of the new members of (@AGMusicalArtist) and AGMA General Counsel the professional staff, from our National on Instagram (@AmericanGuildof Bruce Simon Executive Director, Len Egert. MusicalArtists). Stay connected to your Cohen, Weiss, & Simon We had a rather unique situation with colleagues; get involved with your union; Associate Executive Director Jimmy Odom resigning as President consider serving as a delegate in your Deborah J. Allton-Maher in order to join the staff as of March 1, shop or joining your contract negoti- Eastern Counsel Wendy LaManque 2019. First Vice President John Coleman ating team. AGMA grows stronger with Eastern Counsel graciously stepped in and did a fantastic your valuable input. As always, we invite Sam Wheeler job closing out the Board year. Since the you to write an article for AGMAzine Mid-Atlantic Counsel election has concluded, we are excited and include some photographs to Allison Beck to welcome Ray Menard as our new go with your article. All submissions Midwest Counsel President—so we have three AGMA should be sent for consideration to John Ward presidents offering their perspectives. [email protected]. That being West Coast Counsel Hope Singer Deborah Alton-Maher, who will retire said, we would like to SEE YOU! We Western Executive later this summer, shares her thoughts would like photos of AGMA members Nora Heiber on the post-Weinstein era and how doing AGMA work—please share with Eastern Business Representative AGMA continues to address sexual us rehearsal and backstage photos. Melinda Fiedler harassment. We share the results of the AGMAzine is YOUR magazine. No Midwest Business Representative election, and while there were more bal- issue could be possible with contribu- James Odom lots cast than in previous years, we do tions (blurbs/thoughts, articles, and Western Business Representative Tracy Jones encourage every member to participate. pictures) from YOU, the member. I Griff Braun, recently appointed Direc- am grateful that you take the time to Director of Organizing and Outreach Griff Braun tor of Organizing and Outreach, shares share your stories with us. I must also plans for the ever-evolving New Mem- express my extreme gratitude to MMRC Editor: Denise Baker ber Orientation program. and AGMA’s Denise Baker for their tire- We received permission from the less work on AGMAzine. All involved Canadian Opera Company to reprint are hoping that YOU, the membership, Russell Thomas’ very thoughtful pro- enjoys what you see. Thank you so gram note about diversity, activism much, everyone, for your part in making and blackface in opera. Newly elected each issue a reality. 151964 2019 Summer issue.indd 2 7/8/19 1:19 PM contents 28PAGE 19PAGE 2 National Executive DEPARTMENTS Director’s Report 11 In Memoriam 3 Presidents' Messages 32 AGMA Audited Financials FEATURED ARTICLES PAGE 4 "So Long, and Thanks AREA NEWS for All the Fish" 15 Chicago/Midwest 5 Post Weinstein Era 18 Philadelphia, Washington/Baltimore 22 6 2019 Officer and Governor Election and Pittsburgh Results 20 Pittsburgh 8 Metropolitan Opera Chorus Retirement Party 20 New York 9 New Member 22 Southern California Orientation: Engaging Members from the 24 New Orleans PAGE PAGE Beginning 25 San Francisco 10 By-Law Changes Approved by the Board 27 Washington/Baltimore 25 28 12 Russell Thomas on 27 Texas/Oklahoma Diversity, Activism and Blackface in Opera 28 Northwest 13 Arts Advocacy Day 28 Met Opera Bake Sale 14 New Hires PAGE 30 AGMA Fund Office 31 AGMA Relief Fund 27 PAGE 1 151964 2019 Summer issue.indd 1 7/8/19 1:19 PM A Transformative Time Election Policies approved by your Board staff, this is a fantastic team of profession- of Governors. We also constituted an als that will propel AGMA to new levels of Election Oversight Committee (EOC) excellence. populated with members who were not We are planning to initiate compre- running for office or campaigning, to over- hensive outreach efforts that will include see all aspects of the election. I want to new member orientations, delegate train- thank the members of the EOC for their ing and other forms of education to all service. We will be doing an assessment of of our companies in the coming months. the process and will report recommenda- Our goal is to have AGMA staff visit each LEONARD EGERT tions for any policy modifications in the of our signatory companies (over 60) at NATIONAL EXECUTIVE future. least two times per year. We also plan to DIRECTOR Following the Board of Governors incorporate new technologies for remote On June 1, 2019, the new National Offi- directive to engage, support and serve and online collaborating and training cers and Governors began to serve their our membership, I am pleased to report activity. By working with National and terms. I want to congratulate the newly that we have created and filled several Area leaders in this way, we will re-engage elected leadership, and thank those new key positions that will fulfill these AGMA’s membership, strengthen mem- who continue to serve and those com- functions: Don Cavanaugh, Director of bers’ connections to their union, help us pleting their service to the union. I look Finance and Administration; Griff Braun, enforce and negotiate stronger contracts, forward to working closely with President Director of Organizing and Outreach; and eventually grow the union. Our staff Raymond Menard and our leadership. Wendy LaManque, Eastern Counsel; is very excited to partner with leaders in AGMA is, and has always been, a mem- Sam Wheeler, Eastern Counsel; Melinda these initiatives. Please attend and urge ber-driven organization thanks to the Fiedler, Eastern Business Representative; your fellow AGMA members to come out dedicated and talented individuals who James Odom, Midwest Business Repre- or log on to join these events. As always, volunteer their time and efforts. sentative; Tracy Jones, Western Business your participation and feedback are At the start of this election cycle, Representative; and Joe Conceison, Exec- welcome. we developed a comprehensive set of utive Assistant. Along with our existing 2019 Leadership Conference Participants able to attend this year's Leadership Conference: front, left to Participants at this year's Leadership Conference dinner: front, left to right: Joseph Gasperec, right: John Coleman, Louis Perry, Linda Mays, Carol Wolfe, Joshua Hong; Jane Shaulis, Carol Wolfe, George Scott, Jan Zelenak, Liz Sciblo; back: Matt Woodbury, Louis back: George Scott, Andy Garcia, Jane Shaulis, Evelyn Santiago-Schulz, Perry, Don Cavanaugh, John Coleman, Jennifer Wallace, Linda Mays, Julie Condy, Len Egert, Julie Condy, Jennifer Wallace; far back: Ray Menard, Len Egert, Matt Joshua Hong; far back: Tim Smith, Ray Menard and Stephen Jones. Woodbury, Don Cavanaugh and Tim Smith. PAGE 2 AGMAZINE SUMMER 2019 151964 2019 Summer issue.indd 2 7/8/19 1:19 PM Presidents' Messages of accomplishments achieved during my that they continue to provide the wise time in office. However, I can look into the counsel they have shared with me thus far. future and assure you that the dedicated In closing, thank you for putting your volunteers who make up the Board of Gov- trust in me and let me assure you that ernors of AGMA will tirelessly continue to even though I am not always in my AGMA devote themselves to improvements in office, my door is always open. (I still have wages, welfare and workplace safety for to work for a living!) I want to hear your AGMA members. concerns, try to answer your questions, I look forward to meeting and working and see to your welfare.