Kenneth Woods- a view from the podium

I’ve held off writing about the Columbus Symphony mostly because my personal connection to the orchestra makes it too painful to do so.

A bit of biography- I played in the CSO for about four years (less in the later years when I was busier conducting) while I was doing my doctorate at CCM. Columbus has never had quite a large enough core of full-time players to do big symphonic repertoire (I think there were 6 full-timers in the cello section when I was there) so the orchestra carried a number of what are now called “associate” members (when I started we were just called “subs”) who played every concert but were only paid per service, hence saving the organization millions every year.

Yes, the system is as sketchy as it sounds (full of inqeuities and double-standards), but it was a boon for many CCM students and recent grads like myself, in spite of the gruelling commute. Unlike the other major bands in the area like Indy or Cincinnati, the fact that Columbus used associates on every concert meant you could get a lot of work if you got on the list. I was already well on my way down the conducting road when I auditioned for them, but I loved playing there and I believe my experience in the band helped me immeasurably as a conductor.

The saddest thing about the current fiasco is that it sounds as if so little has changed in the ten years since I left (as best my memory will serve after so long). Columbus was always an orchestra that musically far, far surpassed its budget or reputation. We regularly had friends in the other “other” CSO (Cincinnati) come up who felt that at that time Columbus was in many ways the more complete band (their words, not mine), and certainly often gave much more exciting concerts. Many of my fellow associates from those days went on to win jobs in supposedly “bigger” A orchestras, only to find that the standards were nowhere near as high as in Columbus. By all accounts, the orchestra has simply continued to improve and improve- the last few things I heard from them were pretty impeccable. I certainly still miss playing for them. I can also not think of any place I’ve worked where there was more of a love affair between an audience and an orchestra and their conductor (Alessandro Sicciliani at that time). Columbus audiences loved the orchestra and responded with a passion and energy I didn’t find in a lot of places in my travels.

Sadly, the other thing that hasn’t changed is the incompetent and weasely faction on the board of directors. I lost count of how many executive directors we went through in my brief time there, but most of them came in as renowned “union busters” or “professional downsizers.” Apparently one ED bragged that she was “a hatchet man, but with tits.” Yikes. Since then, they’ve endured long periods without EDs or MDs. What does that say about the wisdom and competence of the board?

Through it all, the players built a better and better orchestra. No excuses, no backsliding. Robert Levine has an excellent post on the situation there pointing to the absurdity of a situation in which the people who not only did their jobs but excelled above national standards and expectations for their budget lose their jobs and possible their homes and health care while those who failed to live up to their commitments as board members or who utterly and completely failed in their basic responsibilities as executive mangers keep their jobs and their titles.

The usually ultra-diplomatic Drew McManus has been so appalled at the behaviour of the board president as to use the word “idiot.” I think that is unfair to idiots, who can’t help themselves. This whole thing was deliberate- the wilful destruction of the careers and lives of a fine group of many professional musicians who DO have a hugely loyal and passionate local following. It was not an accident. So sad…There is still some hope- a change of board president and executive director followed by a move to external arbitration could resolve this nightmare in a manner of days. The alternative is too awful to consider. I hope some of the city fathers recognize their community is about to become a national disgrace and will take the initiative to chat to some board members at the local club….