We really f#%#@d this one up didn’t we?
Ever have the experience when scrolling socials of stopping dead in your tracks because something vile just popped up? With some you just scroll on by, and with others, like a train wreck, you can't look away.
When the horrific article popped up last month, it wasn't something you shook your head at and moved on. Everyone in classical music stopped, first with shock at the undeniable power of the article, then as more and more women spoke up and shared their stories, with the heart-dropping realization that the issue is more deeply systemic than you thought.
If you've been living under a rock (don't worry you're in good company, you can usually find me nice and comfy under one!), here's the article.
I'll wait while you get caught up.
Yikes. For Ted and me, this topic is the tip of the iceberg of many conversations over the years along the lines of: This is wrong, this isn't fair. This isn't sustainable. How do we fix, impact, steer, create policy, or change the culture for the better? How do we stop this cycle of victimization? of division and polarization? As it relates to gender, race, hierarchy, patriarchy, power?
Ted took action in his commitment to the betterment of our culture to another level:
he quit playing to step into work at the management level!
That's his path and calling. You don't need to put your instrument down (please don't - we need music makers) to create lasting change.
You, yes you, can plant seeds of trust, acknowledgment, and appreciation of strengths. You can be a role model. You can speak up. You can take a moment to praise someone or notice the effort someone put forth. You can be a beacon for others.
I asked Ted to sum up a presentation he gave a few years back. In it he addresses emerging professionals about how to be instrumental in their organizations. Here's what he said:
A few years ago, at the height of the pandemic, I gave a presentation for some conservatory students titled “Grow up to be a Model Orchestral Citizen.”
At the time, I was still chair of the committee with the Cincinnati Symphony, deeply engaged with navigating the challenges so many of us were facing. The presentation focused on explaining the structures and purview of the various departments in orchestras, the relationship between boards and administration and musicians, etc. I spent a lot of time talking about the importance of communication, shared vision, and making sure that as an orchestral musician, you stay engaged with your orchestra waaaay past the level of showing up and playing the music in front of you.
I ended with an upbeat section about how we can create a culture onstage that mimics a healthy society, with hallmarks of Communication, Diversity, Unity, Respect, Activism, and Mentorship.
Man we really f#%#@d this one up, didn’t we?
What we’re seeing in the news out of the orchestra world highlights failure at every one of those levels:
Opacity, discrimination, division, violence, reactionary cultural values and people abusing unequal power relationships.
And lest we believe that these issues are limited to one orchestra: no. They’re not. This is a problem everywhere. Everywhere I’ve worked and everywhere I’ve heard about.
Despite all the nauseating and sensational headlines and reporting, we have to look at what each of us can do. How can each of us be instrumental in the change we want to see?
As long as musicians feel disempowered, disenfranchised and alienated from their organizations, it won’t get any better. If anyone has the power to instantly impact culture in a positive way onstage it’s the musicians. But that requires orchestral musicians to grab that power and establish a culture that works for good, stands up for each other, and refuses to tolerate abuse and bias.
The second best option is for managers to start building the processes and structures necessary to create a better culture from the top down. And this is totally possible, but it’s not going to be comfortable.
The great hope that I carry is that this next generation of young musicians Just. Will. Not. Put. Up. With. Our. Crap. That when you ask “Why do we do it this way?” and someone says “This is the way we’ve always done it” you will say “ Oh well, too bad, it’s changing NOW.”
The last slide in my presentation said cheerfully, after a bit of doom and gloom “Out industry has a vibrant, meaningful future IF WE MAKE IT."
That means you, me and everyone who wants to be instrumental in this change. Let’s do it.
